Monday, February 11, 2008

Neurons or Pollock? Scientists Create Technicolor 'Brainbow'

By Alexis Madrigal

Scientists at Harvard and MIT have genetically modified mouse neurons to fire "tracer" rounds that are helping researchers map the brain's intricate connections.

The scientists inserted a special gene into the mice that produces glowing proteins, extracted from coral and jellyfish. As the mouse thinks, the fluorescent proteins spread out along neural pathways. After the mice are euthanized, their nervous systems are cut into slices.

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Below: This dense tangle of neurons is in the auditory portion of the brain stem. Mammals have very thick axons in the region, in part because the system needs to process sound quickly.


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