The neuronal basis of magnetoreception in the mouse

Many species on the planet rely on the Earths magnetic field to guide navigation. For instance, each year the artic tern migrates from the artic circle to Antarctica, and back again. While it is an undeniable fact that animals detect magnetic fields, we still do not understand how they do this or where the receptor cells are located. A number of ideas have been proposed, which rely on either: (1) the presence of an intracellular compass; (2) a mechanism that relies on light; (3) or the direct conversion of magnetic information into electrical signals. Progress in the field has been slow because most magnetosensory animals are protected, migrate large distances, and cannot be studied in the laboratory. In this proposal I will explore the biology underlying the magnetic sense employing mice as a model system. I will be studying how magnetic stimuli influence neuronal activity in the brain, which will guide our search for the primary sensory cells. I will exploit the latest advances in light sheet microscopy and the broad array of genetic tools available in the mouse. This project will provide a foundation to answer the age-old question: How do animals detect magnetic fields? Moreover, it is likely to spur innovation in other fields of sciences. Understanding how a light dependent magnetic compass functions will assist in the developing of quantum computing at room temperatures and inspire the designs of very small magnetic detection devices.