Abstract
Our brains sense how much we eat to adjust our physiology. The information processing mechanisms are unknown, posing a fundamental question in genetics, neurobiology, physiology, and systems biology. Here we investigate a neural code for food-sensing based on gene expression, an unexplored mechanism of neural computation. Using microfluidics to automate high-throughput microscopy, we will quantify gene expression in a neural circuit that encodes food levels to influence ageing. Genetic manipulation of this circuit and modelling will reveal how its connectivity generates information processing functions. This project combines advanced techniques in molecular genetics, quantitative microscopy, and computational modelling.
References
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