chapter 7 pt 2 Flashcards
synthetic biology
the design and construction of biological devices, systems, and machines not found in nature
CRISPR method
-cuts DNA in any cell
-used to silence genes by cutting out those regions in the DNA
-DNA repair can be tailored to insert a new sequence to replace a previous one
optogenetics
-transgenic technique that combines genetics and light to control targeted cells in living tissue
-based discovery that light can activate proteins
Opsins
-are proteins derived from micro-organisms
-combines a light sensitive domain with an ion channel
optogenetics
-great potential for research
-high spatial and temporal resolution
-ion channels can be placed into specific cell lines and turned on and off on millisecond time scale
for techniques to measure electrical activity
-single cell recording
-EEG
-ERP
-MEG
Place cells
code the spatial location of the animal and contribute to a spatial map of the world in the brain
EEG: recording graded potentials from thousands of cells
EEG measures the summed graded potentials from many thousands of neurons
Advantages and Disadvantages for EEG
-non invasive
-cost
-can record from hundreds of sites
-high temporal resolution
-poor spatial resolution
-cant record deep brain regions
Magnetoencephalography
-neural activity, by generating an electrical field, also produces a magnetic field the measured field
-permit a three dimensional localization of the cell groups generating
-higher resolution but high cost
Anatomical imaging techniques
-computed tomography
Anatomical Imaging techniques
-computed tomography
-CT scan
-MRI
-DTI
Computed tomography (CT scan)
- x-ray beams are passed through the brain at many different angles, creating many different images
-images are combined with the use of computing and mathematical techniques to create a three dimensional image of the brain
-A disadvantage is it can not differentiate white vs grey matter
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
-produces a static three dimensional brain image by passing a strong magnetic field through the brain, followed by a radio wave, them measuring the radiation emitted by hydrogen atoms
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
detects the directional movements of water molecules to image nerve fibre pathways in the brain
-used to delineate abnormalities in neural pathways