Biology Seminar Series: Chris Doe

By: TAMU Biology

biology seminar series chris doe Dr. Chris Doe to Speak on Development of Motor Circuits in Drosophila

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Chris Doe will be our distinguished guest speaker at the upcoming seminar on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM in BSBE 115. The seminar will be hosted by Dr. Aref Zarin.

About Dr. Chris Doe:
Dr. Chris Doe is a renowned researcher in the field of neurobiology, focusing on the assembly of the nervous system in Drosophila. His research delves into the role of neural stem cells, known as neuroblasts, in producing a diverse array of neurons and forming circuits that drive locomotion and navigation behaviors. Dr. Doe’s team aims to uncover the developmental rules that govern the assembly of neural circuits, with the long-term goal of aiding clinicians in directing human stem cells to generate specific types of neurons for repairing injured or diseased brains.

Seminar Title:
Development of Motor Circuits in Drosophila

Abstract:
The generation of neuronal diversity is crucial for the formation of neural circuits and subsequent behavior. This diversity can arise from intrinsic molecular identities specified by temporal transcription factors or from changing extrinsic cues. Dr. Doe’s research utilizes the Drosophila NB7-1 and NB5-2 lineages to explore this phenomenon. The NB7-1 lineage sequentially generates U1-U5 motor neurons, each with a distinct intrinsic temporal identity due to the inheritance of different temporal transcription factors at birth. Dr. Doe’s findings reveal that these motor neurons project axons and extend dendrites in a sequential manner. By misexpressing the earliest temporal transcription factor, Hunchback, Dr. Doe’s team created “ectopic” U1 motor neurons with early intrinsic temporal identities but later birth orders. These ectopic neurons exhibited axon muscle targeting and dendrite neuropil targeting consistent with their intrinsic temporal identity, rather than their birth order. This mechanism also applies to interneuron specification and connectivity, highlighting the significant role of intrinsic temporal identity in motor circuit development.