Newly discovered class of mouse retinal cells detect upward motion

404132862 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:10:06 -0400

Harvard researchers have discovered a previously unknown type of retinal cell that plays an exclusive and unusual role in mice: detecting upward motion. The cells reflect their function in the physical arrangement of their dendrites, branch-like structures on neuronal cells that form a communicative network with other dendrites and neurons in the brain.

The work, led by neuroscientists Joshua R. Sanes and Markus Meister, is described in a letter in the journal Nature.

Sexual ID switch is found

70652986 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:19:03 -0400

A gene named TRP2 (pronounced "Trip 2") produces a signaling protein that regulates both aggression and sexual behavior in male mice. Male mice can, of course, distinguish other males from females by their looks, size, and smell. But a Harvard research team, led by Catherine Dulac in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. found that with TRP2 switched off, no matter what their senses tell them, male mice will not fight for their territory, and they will make love to male intruders as quickly as they will to females. "We are totally surprised that a single gene has such a profound effect on behavior," admits Dulac. "In humans, such basic behaviors are unlikely to be explained by the activity of only one gene.

all Markus Meister stories

Newly discovered class of mouse retinal cells detect upward motion

Sexual ID switch is found