BIO SCI 38 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Cre Recombinase, Viral Vector, Memory Consolidation
10 Jan 2020
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Document Summary
Transgenic mouse methods have been widely used to study molecular and cellular mechanisms of memory. Different methods for adding genes or modifying genes of a mouse. Use of the cre-loxp system allows conditional deletion or modification of a gene in an adult animal. This method usually involves the use of a virus vector to introduce a foreign gene (cre recombinase) to modify dna through recombination to delete or activate a gene. Viral vectors are like viruses, but only express experimental genes of interest and often a fluorescent marker protein. Block expression of one specific gene in the cell, 2) over-express a specific gene, 3) allow the experimenter to optically image neural activity, or 4) allow the experimenter to manipulate neural circuits. Determine whether molecular changes seen following ltp induction also occur in the brain after learning. Determine whether blocking molecular processes necessary for ltp also block learning or memory consolidation.
