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Published December 6, 2013 | public
Journal Article

Assembly of a Neural Circuit

Hong, Weizhe

Abstract

Precise connections established between synaptic partners are essential for the proper function of neural circuits. To explain the striking target specificity of the optic nerve during regeneration, Roger Sperry proposed the chemoaffinity hypothesis 50 years ago, which posits that developing neurons must carry "individual identification tags," presumably cytochemical in nature. By this means, they can almost be distinguished in many regions, to the level of the single neuron (1). Since then, many molecules have been identified that guide axons to their final target area, but little is known about molecules that mediate mutual selection and matching between individual pre- and postsynaptic partners among many possible alternatives at the target area (2–4).

Additional Information

© 2013 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Science and SciLifeLab are pleased to present the essay by Weizhe Hong, a 2013 second runner-up for the Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists. I thank my Ph.D. adviser L. Luo for his guidance and support. I also thank all the members in the Luo lab, especially H. Zhu and T. Mosca, for collaborations and discussions.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023