Affiliation:
1. School of Biological Sciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia USA
Abstract
AbstractThe Motor Ganglion (MG) is a small collection of neurons that control the swimming movements of the tunicate tadpole larva. Situated at the base of the tail, molecular and functional comparisons suggest that may be a homolog of the spinal cord and/or hindbrain (“rhombospinal” region) of vertebrates. Here we review the most current knowledge of the development, connectivity, functions, and unique identities of the neurons that comprise the MG, drawn mostly from studies in Ciona spp. The simple cell lineages, minimal cellular composition, and comprehensively mapped “connectome” of the Ciona MG all make this an excellent model for studying the development and physiology of motor control in aquatic larvae.
Funder
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems
Subject
Developmental Biology,Genetics,Animal Science and Zoology,Molecular Medicine,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics