ERC Consolidator Grant · 2021
Tracking the deep evolutionary origins of neurons
The evolutionary origin of first neurons was key for animals as it allowed them to rapidly detect environmental cues and to coordinate responses to threats or opportunities. The evolutionary origin of neurons however remains a highly debated and largely enigmatic subject since there is no broad agreement on the relationships at the base of the animal tree and not all non-bilaterian animals have neurons. Strikingly, early branching animals, as well as their closest unicellular relatives already contain many components of the molecular toolkits for neuronal functions. ORIGINEURO addresses fundamental questions regarding the evolutionary origin of synapses and neurons from molecular to…
From the public funding record at EU CORDIS. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.