IBN 9421545 Terri Grodzicker This proposal is to support a conference on Cell and molecular biology of Aplysia to be held at Cold Spring Harbor April 19-24, 1995. The mollusc Aplysia, and a number of other invertebrate animals, have proven extremely useful in studies of basic cellular neurobiology. In large part this is because of the extraordinarily large size of the cells of its nervous system and the ability to recognize these cells as unique individuals. This has allowed the investigation of individual cells, their patterns of interconnections, modulation of synaptic strength, behavior, learning and development. The 1995 meeting will provide a format for discussing new methods and findings that have emerged in the cell and molecular biology of Aplysia and other model invertebrate systems. These findings will be considered in eight different session, each concerned with a different level of analysis: ion channels, neurotransmitter, synaptic transmission, cell imaging, circadian rhythm, circuity and behavimr, learning and development. About 150 participants from 60 laboratories throughout the world are expected to attend.
