Our lab is interested in the generation of cellular diversity during brain development. We have recently shown that one-third of neural stem cells from mice have gained or lost at least one chromosome. Many of these cells appear to survive in the adult brain as neurons and glia with physiologies distinct from their genetically normal neighbors. Thus, the CNS is a genetic mosaic, containing a majority of genetically identical cells and a few genetically unique ones. My goals for the summer are to try to understand if brain function benefits from the genetic difference between its component cells and to eat a lot of chile.