NE 431

Credit: 4 hours.

This laboratory course, which serves as a companion to Neural Cell and Tissue Engineering, will provide students with a hands-on understanding of many of the concepts and techniques central to this field. Students will take part in an immersive laboratory experience centered on the biomaterial-guided directed differentiation of neural stem cells from pluripotent stem cells and their transplantation into the nervous system of a rodent model for the goal creating a functional neural graft. Cell culture, nucleic acid extraction, qPCR and immunofluorescent imaging are among the laboratory techniques that students will become proficient in. Data quantitation, methods for statistical analysis and scientific writing are emphasized.

4 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: NE 330 or instructor consent. Concurrent enrollment or credit in NE 430 is required.