Dr. Fernando Nottebohm of the Rockefeller Institute in New York City shared his research on neuron cells in the Exley Science Center on Thursday.
Associate Professor of Biology John Kirn introduced Nottebohm as “a child in an intellectual candy store.” Nottebohm, according to Kirn, goes into his research with no expectations and encourages science students to be creative.
“Tinkering [with an experiment] is important,” Nottebohm said. “It’s the only thing that makes science fun.”
Nottebohm divided the lecture into two parts: the first highlighting song and vocal learning in songbirds, the second focusing on neuronal replacement. The discoveries that Nottebohm and other scientists have made with songbirds could potentially lead to cures for human illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Nottebohm studied three different birds in his research into bird songs: the zebra finch, the canary, and the chipping sparrow.
Male zebra finches begin to develop their ability to sing and repeat songs at an early age. This process eventually contributes to the mating process. As a zebra finch’s song develops, Nottebohm explained, its testosterone levels increase. Observers can see the physical results of this increase by looking at the finch’s feathers, which turn from grey to orange. When Nottebohm isolated zebra finches in an experiment and prevented them from mimicking other finches, their orange fur did not develop. The isolated finches struggled to gain a female mate.
Canaries, as Nottebohm observed, produce new “song repertoires” every year. These new songs, as with the zebra finches, attract female mates.
Chipping sparrows’ vocal learning starts when they are still living in the nest. Baby sparrows try to sing different songs to gain attention from the parent birds for food.
“The babies are like people fighting for democracy,” Nottebohm said.
Nottebohm continued his talk by comparing a songbird’s neuronal cells to those of a human. Neurons are the cells of the nervous system that control memory and learning. Although adult neurons can be replaced, the brain has only a finite number of them. This signifies that there is a limit to how much the adult human brain can learn. Theoretically, implanting more neurons increases the brain’s learning capabilities.
However, according to Nottebohm, some experts describe this process as one of surrendering identity and acquiring a new one. In an experiment, Nottebohm exposed HVC-RA, a specific protein in neuron cells, to laser wavelengths to determine how quickly the neurons can replace themselves. The treated cells demonstrated an initial drop in neuron levels, but after one month, the full compliment of neurons was replaced.
Although this discovery, among many others, could be first in line to cure diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, scientists have much research ahead of them. For example, because the neurons can be separated from the rest of the cells in a bird’s brain, it is easy to separate the age of the cells with the age of the brain. In humans, this separation is not as accessible.
“There is an enormous amount of molecular work that needs to be done,” Nottebohm said.
Nottebohm ended the lecture on a high note, stating that even though there is still research to be done, scientists are performing this research and discovering new ideas as they work.
“Always stay away from the obvious things and go for the paradoxes,” Nottebohm told the audience.
The lecture impressed attendees, from undergraduates to graduate students and professors.
“[Nottebohm’s] own experience and his high standard of quality that I can sense from him inspired me,” said graduate student Siying Chen. “His love and devotion to his research and work impressed me.”
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