The incident modified the tau protein, which gives neurons structural support, rendering it unable to fulfill its role. (scientificamerican.com)
By using random series of 30 nucleotides — the building blocks of RNA and DNA — he thought he could give neurons unique barcodes, linking the barcodes across synapses, then create maps of their connections using high - throughput gene sequencing technology. (science.sciencemag.org)
Thus, signals coming from a given neuron provide information about odors that activate the specific receptor protein expressed by that cell. (scientificamerican.com)