MOROZ, Leonid; University of Florida: “What is a Neuron from a Genomic Standpoint? Polyphyletic Origin and Natural System of Neurons

I will present and review comparative and novel genomic data related to the diversity of nervous systems and gene expression profiling from various neurons. I will also discuss two evolutionary scenarios of the origin of neuronal organization in evolution: Monophyly vs Polygenesis of neurons. The Polyphyletic Origin (i.e. independent origin of neurons in different lineages) is a more favorable scenario that can explain the enormous diversity of neuronal types and nervous systems across phyla. Emerging data related to the large scale expression profiling at the level of individual identified neurons gene provide unique recourses for novel strategies in NeuroSystematics. Specifically, cladistic and clustering approaches can be employed to construct a natural system of neurons extending classical classification of neuronal subtypes beyond sensory, motor cells and interneurons.