On October 7, the RIGeL  Graduate Colloquium group was delighted to welcome another guest speaker for an exciting talk on the topic “Neuronal Coordination of Cilia in Marine Zooplankton in Moving and Sensing” on October 7. 

Prof. Gáspár Jékely from the University of Heidelberg presented fascinating insights into how nervous systems control and coordinate ciliary movements in marine zooplankton. These transparent marine organisms use motile cilia rather than muscles to move through the water. Since cilia evolved before muscles, the earliest nervous systems may have evolved to regulate ciliary activity.

Prof. Gáspár Jékely also discussed how sensing and movement may have co-evolved and become interconnected through reafference since the origin of nervous systems around 575 million years ago.

The talk attracted an interdisciplinary audience, including zoologists and neurobiologists, and was highly interesting. Prof. Gáspár Jékely explained the complex concepts in a clear, engaging, and accessible way, making the presentation enjoyable for everyone.

After the talk, the evening continued with a relaxed dinner at the Gravenreuther in the city, providing a wonderful opportunity for further discussions and informal exchange.