Colloquium Series
We would like to invite you to a mini-series of three colloquia on the evolution of early nervous systems by leaders in this exciting field of nervous system evolution. The colloquia are organized in collaboration with the Göttingen Campus based GönomiX initiative headed by Gregor Bucher.
The emergence of the first neurons and nervous systems constituted a key innovation in animal evolution. How the pre-animal molecular cell biology, the emerging developmental toolkit for cell type specification and natural selection for basal behavioural competences shaped the emergence of the first nervous systems are central questions in evolutionary neuroscience.
The Colloquium mini-series presents key contributions to this exciting chapter in neural circuit-evolution.
- Gaspar Jekely (University of Exeter), “Light- and mechanosensory ciliary photoreceptors in the annelid brain and evolution of sensory cell types”, Jan 26, 2023 (14:15-15:45) recording available here
- Pawel Burkhardt (Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen), “The ancestry of the synaptic toolkit and appearance of first neurons”, Feb 2, 2023 (14:15-15:45) recording available here
- Andreas Hejnol, (University of Jena), "Open Questions about Questionable Openings: The mouth, the anus and the blastopore", Apr 27, 2023 (14:15-15:45) recording available here
All sessions are hybrid a) taking place at GZMB in Göttingen and b) being broadcasted via zoom. We share the respective link in due time on our mailing list.
contact: 
SPP 2205 Coordination Office
Dr. Britta Korkowsky
e-mail: spp2205 (at) ds.mpg.de