Press Releases

The latest from the institute
We are happy to share essential research results and latest news from our institute with you.

Press Release

6 Dec 2022

More flexible than thought: New insights into evolution and diversification of TGF-beta signaling

The TGF-ß cellular signaling network, essential to various functions in all metazoans and also involved in many severe human pathologies like autoimmune diseases and cancer, is more flexible than previously thought. Researchers at the MPI for Neurobiology of Behavior and the MPI for Biology discovered an unknown genetic variability in this signaling pathway amongst different nematode species resulting in morphological and behavioral variations. This fresh view on the TGF-ß machinery, published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, is important for understanding the evolution of signaling pathways, their adaptability to acquire novel functions and also for new strategies to control parasitic nematodes.

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Press Release

28 Nov 2022

Neuroscientists illuminate how brain cells deep in the cortex operate in freely moving mice

How can we see what neurons deep in the cortex are doing during behavior? Our researchers at the Department of Behavior and Brain Organization have developed a miniature microscope small enough to be carried on the head of a freely moving mouse and capable of measuring neuronal activity in all cortical layers, even the deepest ones. The two-gram microscope can be controlled remotely, which minimizes the need to handle the animal. The microscope also incorporates new technology enabling imaging in lit environments, something that all comparable microscopes struggled to do. Neuronal activity can now be imaged from all cortical layers in the freely moving mouse during the full range of the animal’s behaviors. This new microscope is a game changer for exploring the link between neural activity and complex animal behavior.

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Press Release

8 Nov 2022

How does a skeleton move? A new method to quantify skeletal kinematics in freely moving rodents

How can we measure a skeleton’s motion in a furry animal as it moves through its environment? Our researchers have developed a new method to quantify skeletal motion in freely moving rodents in a new level of accuracy and detail. It is based around building a skeleton-model that calculates bone joint movement using basic anatomical principles, such as joint rotation limits, and speeds at which bodies can move. This approach, published in Nature Methods, opens up a new ability to read out how animals interact with their environment and, as the brain and spinal cord drives movement, start unravelling the relationship between neuronal activity and complex behavior such as decision-making.

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Press Release

16 Jan 2022

New Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar now full member of the Max Planck Society

Since January 01st 2022, the research center caesar in Bonn has become the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar. Scientists from more than 35 nations study how the collective activity of vast numbers of neurons gives rise to the variety of animal behaviors across many species. They are now part of a large network that offers not only new scientific infrastructures, exchange and collaborations, but also a wide range of training and career opportunities. “Bringing the institute into the Max Planck family is an exciting time for us” agree the two directors Jason Kerr and Kevin Briggman.

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Press Release

9 Nov 2021

Seeing what they see – a new method to reconstruct the point-of-view of a freely moving animal

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Press Release

16 Feb 2021

Cells decide their fate collectively

It is one of the great mysteries in biology - from apparently uniform stem cells, a plethora of diverse, specialized cell types arise through so called differentiation processes. Although we know that the special functions of the cells are founded in the genes, one central question still remains open: How is this differentiation process controlled? What ensures that the vital proportions of cell types are present within the population?

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Press Release

22 Jan 2021

Cannibal worms spare their own brood - New caesar research group investigates self-recognition systems in nature

New caesar research group "Self-recognition and cannibalism" investigates self-recognition systems in nature, headed by neurobiologist Dr. James Lightfoot.

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Press Release

7 Jan 2021

Keeping Sperm Cells on Track - Researchers point to a new mechanism underlying male infertility

One essential component of each eukaryotic cell is the cytoskeleton. Microtubules, tiny tubes consisting of a protein called tubulin, are part of this skeleton of cells. Cilia and flagella, which are antenna-like structures that protrude from most of the cells in our body, contain many microtubules. An example of flagell is the sperm tail, which is essential for male fertility and thus for sexual reproduction. The flagellum has to beat in a very precise and coordinated manner to allow progressive swimming of the sperm. Failure to do so can lead to male infertility. Researchers at the Institut Curie in Paris, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, the research center caesar in Bonn together with the University of Bonn, the Institut Cochin in Paris and the Human Technopole in Milan now show that one particular enzymatic modification of the protein tubulin, called glycylation, is essential to keep sperm swimming in a straight line. These findings imply that a perturbation of this modification could underlie some forms of male infertility in humans.

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Press Release

3 Sep 2020

On a quest for a magnetic compass – caesar researcher Pascal Malkemper awarded with an ERC Starting Grant

He is on a fascinating quest to understand a mysterious sense in an exotic animal: Pascal Malkemper, leader of the Max Planck Research Group “Neurobiology of Magnetoreception” at the research center caesar. This mission has just received a substantial boost: Malkemper is awarded with a prestigious ERC Starting Grant by the European Research Council. These highly competitive grants enable outstanding scientists to establish themselves as upcoming research leaders.

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Press Release

20 Jul 2020

Summer school opens insight into neuro research

The Corona pandemic particularly affects the education of schoolchildren. Not only is learning in schools severely restricted. Excursions and extracurricular learning opportunities are also hardly feasible. A special online summer school offered by the caesar research centre fills this gap. There are still places available for the course from 03 - 06 August 2020.

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