BIOC14H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Telomere, Rna Interference, Molecular Medicine
26 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
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Lecture 2
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Lecture 2 Objectives
• Neuronal structure & function
• Neurotransmitters
• Synaptic communications
• Types of synaptic receptors
• Genetic influences
• Neuropharmacology
• Human Genome Project
• Genetic variations
• SNPs
• GWAS
• Chapter 3 and 4
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Neuronal Structure
• Neurons:
• Specialized cells
• Receive and send information
• Use electrochemical signalling
• Approx. 100 billion (1 x 1011) neurons in average human brain
Length: µm to m in humans
Aborizations
involves electrical signaling in the neuron and chemical signalling
across neurons for communication.
we have very little understanding of how brains work. Neuron is a cell containing
arborizations in one end (tree with branches)
axons can be really long. e.g. if your really tall you can have axons running over a metre in length
there is a need to transmit
information across long
distances in some cases.
one of the primary cell types in the brain that is the foundation for behaviour. Mostly post mitotic cells, very
long lived, you can have individual cells that live as long as you do! Glia is the other primary cell type
involved in neurocommunication.
and a lot more connections than that !
transmit info to other cells
axon lengths differ widely.
Document Summary
Lecture 2 objectives: neuronal structure & function, neurotransmitters, synaptic communications, types of synaptic receptors, genetic influences, neuropharmacology, human genome project, genetic variations, snps, gwas, chapter 3 and 4. Neuronal structure: neurons, specialized cells, receive and send information, use electrochemical signalling, approx. 100 billion (1 x 1011) neurons in average human brain. Neuronal structure: some neurotransmitters are made and packaged in the soma (cell body) and then transported to the axon terminals where they"re released. See: live imaging of axonal transport in hippocampal neurons. Neuronal function: resting potential: the difference in electrical charge across the neuronal membrane (typically ~-70mv intracellularly) Electrical and concentration gradient across the membrane (e. g. high na+ outside, low inside) Molecules / ions can not freely move across the lipid bilayer. Neurotransmitters: neurotransmitters can bind, unbind and rebind to the receptors until broken down or passively diffused out of the synapse, e. g.
