Wiring up the brain: How axons navigate
Ferrier Prize Lecture 2017 given by Professor Christine Holt FMedSci FRS The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells (neurons) that are wired together by axons and dendrites. The precision of this wiring allows us to accurately sense, interpret and interact with the outside world, which is crucial for survival. Many neurons are positioned far away from the targets so they face the formidable task of sending out an axon that must navigate correctly over a long distance to find its targets. This key step in wiring the brain, called axon guidance, occurs early in embryonic development mostly before birth in humans. In this lecture, Professor Holt will describe work on how the eye makes its long-distance connections with the brain. She will discuss general mechanisms of guidance and the discovery that RNA-based mechanisms inside axons help to establish and maintain neural circuitry. The lecture was recorded on March 2 2017 at the Royal Society. For more events like this, see our schedule - ow.ly/KhTi306gTN1
