BBC News: Shampoo 'risk to unborn babies'
A chemical found in shampoo and hand lotions may damage the developing nervous system, research suggests.
Welcome to our website
Science, like life, grows ever, renewing itself continually... It is a great stimulus to the young to know that the mind is inexhaustible."
- Cajal, the scientist and artist.
Axon Guidance & Growth Cones
The Nervous System is a complex organ system containing a highly ordered network of specialised neuronal cells. There are approximately 1014 connections within the brain and it is vital for these individual neurons to send out axons to the correct targets.
This process is achieved by a fundamental stage in neural development known as 'Axon Guidance' or 'Axon Path-finding'. A key structure in directing the growth of axons is termed 'Growth Cone', which is a dynamic extension of the developing neuron. Scientists can generate mutations in genetic model organisms to see whether and how errors in axon navigation are caused.
Visitor's Notice
In this website we will elucidate the concepts involved in axon guidance with emphasis on the function of growth cones. What may seem trivial to begin with is in fact vital, as defects in this process show links with diseases such as Tuberous Sclerosis.
So come along and join us, as we navigate through the, perhaps, most essential stage of neural development!
Animation
The video above explains the concept of axon growth in the brain. For more information see source.
Did you know...
That severing the optic nerve in salamander is followed by regrowth of axons and full restoration of vision, yet the same in humans would cause permanent blindness!
What is this?
Why, I think this could be an interesting fact... here we go!
That young neurons have a greater regenerative potential and levels of cAMP are much higer than in older axons and thus by increasing cAMP, one could make old neurons act more like 'younger' neurons.