https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/AM_470717This course aims to introduce modern techniques in the integrated Neurosciences via hands-on experience. The course illustrates experimental approaches to seek causal relationship between molecular events, such as changes in gene-expression, gene-mutations, protein-protein interactions, and effects of such events on the. functioning of cells, networks and the whole organism. The use of these techniques is embedded in short research projects and typically covers a number of steps: first clone a construct (a mutant protein, an over-expression construct), than culture and tranfect a cell with this construct and finally analyze a functional consequences of this modification using functional assays. Alternatively, research projects may also start with the intact brain and then work down to the molecular networks of proteins and genes, for instance using proteomics and mRNA expression profiling. Although centered around genomics, many functional assays are offered, from electronmicroscopy and protein chemistry to life cell imaging, electrophysiology and behavioural analyses. Various tools and technologies will be explained in supporting lectures and used in order to answer questions related to the function of genes in the nervous system and how they contribute to higher order processes important for functioning of circuitry or behavior. End terms:Profound insight and experience with neurogenomic techniques that are used during the course Adequate design, execution, and interpretation of neurogenomics experiments and conceptualisation of new working models (empirical cycle) Adequate oral presentation (2 oral presentations)This is a practical course. You will be executing a small research project aimed at illustrating today's research into gene-function relations and finding causal relationships between molecular events and functional consequences at the cellular/network level. The experiments involve gene expression analysis (transcripts, proteins), and genotypic and phenotypic analysis (genotyping, cell biology, behavior). Theoretical underpinning of concepts and methods will be achieved by using examples from recent literature.Lectures, discussion of papers, demonstrations, practicals 16x8h practicals, presentations and discussion 4x8h self studyYour final score for the course will depend on three items:Pitch research question (15%)Project practical (60%)Presentation results and conclusion (25%)Articles form journals that published in the last couple of months (2-4 per student). Purves Neuroscience (5th edition) as reference book, can be studied during the course and will be provided at the start of the course.Successful completion of the course Neurogenomics (1st year Master Neurosciences course; AM_1007) is a requirement for enrolment in this course. The number of participants is limited to n=20.