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Open Access
The Genetic Basis for the First Connections in the Brain
(University of Oregon, 2018-06) Adke, Anisha Priyanka
An estimated 100 billion neurons form the human brain, equal to the number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Nervous system function emerges from the patterns and properties of the connections, or synapses, between these neurons. Synapses come in two broad types, electrical, with direct communication mediated by gap junctions, or chemical, with indirect communication facilitated by neurotransmitter release and reception. These synapses form a neural circuit that emerges over development, initially directed by an organism’s genetic code. The first synapses that form are critical to normal circuit wiring, as they lay the foundation upon which mature circuits are built. While we know that these first synapses are electrical, it is unknown which genes are responsible for creating these first connections. This project aimed to identify the connexins responsible for the first synapses and investigate their roles from a neural circuit and behavioral standpoint. This will provide a critical understanding of nervous system wiring, as genetic defects that alter normal circuit wiring are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.