Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Time: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, followed by reception
Speaker: Nenad Sestan, M.D., Ph.D.
Affiliation: Professor of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine
Host: Troy Littleton, Ph.D.

Talk title: Development and Evolution of Neocortical Projection Systems
Abstract: In this presentation, I will describe our recent efforts to understand how neural circuits assemble during the development of the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain that is critical for cognition, perception and behavior. I will focus on the gene regulatory networks and molecular mechanisms that control the identity and connectivity of distinct subtypes of cortical projection neurons.  I will also present evidence on how these processes may have evolved and become compromised in neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, I will make the argument that, as we are gaining a firmer molecular and cellular understanding of how cortical projection systems are assembled, we are increasingly recognizing that better understanding of this complex developmental process is essential for unraveling what makes us human and why we may be more susceptible to certain brain disorders. This presentation will also illustrate an important element of our research, which is the integration of complementary approaches at the interface of developmental and evolutionary neurobiology, functional genomics, and genetics.