Tool Building

Integral to our ability to dissect neural circuits at the cellular and molecular level is the generation of new tools.  Previous work in the lab developed a new genetic system for cell-type specifically controlling gene expression patterns.  This system, the InSite system allowed us to express proteins that manipulate neural activity in specific visual neurons, enabling us to do a forward genetic screen to identify neural components important for motion processing.  These screens identified a number of new cellular components involved in motion processing, opening them for functional and physiological characterization. 

At present, we are working on three different types of tools, including high-speed voltage imaging using genetically encoded indicators, new tools for cell-type specifically disrupting genes, and tools for mapping electrical synaptic connections. 


Order InSITE lines from Bloomington

Detailed InSITE information from Bloomington

The InSITE Database