report submitted to the animal life sciences committee by

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Report Submitted to the Animal Life

Sciences Committee

by

The Alexander Silberman

Institute of Life SciencesFebruary 2009

Contents

Table of Contents II

List of Tables XIII

1 Preface: Animal Sciences at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences 1

1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.2 Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.3 Animal Physiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.4 Animal Genetic Basis of Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.5 Animal collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2 Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behavior 6

2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.1.1 Research Disciplines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.1.2 Taxonomic Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.1.3 Research Methodologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.1.4 Levels of Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2 Individual researchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2.1 Ran Nathan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2.1.1 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.2.1.2 Graduate students supervised (2002-date): . . . . . . . . . . 10

II

2.2.1.3 Academic Positions Held . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.2.1.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.2.1.5 Peer-reviewed publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2.2.1.6 Research grants (2002-date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.2.2 Guy Sella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2.2.2.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17



2.2.2.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18



2.2.3 Salit Kark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2.2.3.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19



2.2.3.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21



2.2.4 Avi Shmida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

2.2.4.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25



2.2.4.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27



2.2.5 Guy Bloch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

2.2.5.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

III

2.2.5.2 Graduate students supervised (2002-date) . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2.2.5.3 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32



2.2.6 Ariel D. Chipman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35



2.2.6.3 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36



2.2.7 Uzi Motro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

2.2.7.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38



2.2.7.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41



2.2.8 Joseph Heller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

2.2.8.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44





2.2.9 Dan Tchernov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

2.2.9.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48



IV

2.2.9.4 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50



2.2.10 Amatzia Genin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

2.2.10.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53





2.2.11 Ronen Kadmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

2.2.11.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58





3 Animal Physiology 63

3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63


3.2.1 Ioav Cabantchik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

3.2.1.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65



3.2.1.4 Book Chapters / Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65



3.2.2 Marshall Devor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

V


3.2.2.2 Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70



3.2.3 Adi Mizrahi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

3.2.3.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78





3.2.4 Israel Nelken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

3.2.4.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80





3.2.5 Binyamin Hochner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

3.2.5.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85





3.2.6 Yosef Yarom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

3.2.6.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91




VI


4 The Genetic Basis of Traits 95

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95


4.2.1 Hermona Soreq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

4.2.1.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96




4.2.1.5 Reviews and Book Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107


4.2.2 Ariel Darvasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

4.2.2.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112





4.2.3 Sagiv Shifman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

4.2.3.1 Education: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119





4.2.4 Sebastian Kadener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123



VII


5 Animal Collections at the Hebrew University 127

5.1 Invertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

5.1.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

5.2 Icythyology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

5.2.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

5.3 Reptiles and Amphibians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

5.3.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

5.4 Paleontology and Archaeozoology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

5.4.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

5.5 Mollusca Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

5.5.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

6 Teaching of Animal Sciences at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences 134

6.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

6.2 Courses Syllabi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

6.2.1 Computation and Cognition A (06118) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

6.2.2 Computation and Cognition B (06133) (3 pts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

6.2.3 From Cell to Organism (72109) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

6.2.4 Introduction to ecology and population biology (72107) . . . . . . . . 136

6.2.5 From Cell to Organism (72108) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

6.2.6 From Cell to Organism Lab (72110) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

6.2.7 Biochemistry of the Cell (72121) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

6.2.8 Cellular Biochemistry (72120) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

6.2.9 Guided Seminar Honor’s program Etgar (72140) . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

6.2.10 Basic Concepts in Biology (72151) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

6.2.11 General genetics (72155) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

VIII

6.2.12 Cellular Biochemistry laboratory course (72157) . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

6.2.13 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (72301) . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

6.2.14 Processes in Embryonic Development (72320) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

6.2.15 Directed Research for Etgar students (72327, 72328) . . . . . . . . . . 140

6.2.16 Guided project in biological research (72329) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

6.2.17 Introduction to the Ecosystem of the Gulf of Eilat ( 72330) . . . . . . 141

6.2.18 Introduction to Molecular Biology (72332) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

6.2.19 Biochemistry: Advanced level (72339) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

6.2.20 Introduction to microbiology (72335 and 72362) . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

6.2.21 Introduction in Physiology (72336) (72363) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

6.2.22 Physiology: advanced level (72343) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

6.2.23 Advanced course in classic and molecular Genetics (72345) . . . . . . 142

6.2.24 Guided Projects in Biological Research for Psychobiology Students mif-

gash mudrach (72348) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

6.2.25 Human Genetics (72350) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

6.2.26 Applied Bioinformatics-Workshop (72351) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

6.2.27 Introduction to Neurobiology (72369) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

6.2.28 Lab in brain and behavior for psychobiology students (72349) . . . . . 144

6.2.29 Introduction to Cell Biology (72373) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

6.2.30 Directed Seminar for Etgar students (72390) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

6.2.31 Microbial ecology (72501) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

6.2.32 Recombinant DNA (72510) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

6.2.33 Undergraduate seminar: Evolution, Systematics, Ecology, Etgar (72520)

147

6.2.34 Undergarduate seminar: Cell & Molecular biology (72522) . . . . . . . 147

6.2.35 Undergraduate seminar: Brain & Behavior Sciences (72526) . . . . . . 147

6.2.36 Undergraduate Psychobiology Seminar (72539) . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

IX

6.2.37 Animal Behavior (72585) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

6.2.38 Animal Behavior Experimental Approaches (72586) . . . . . . . . . . 148

6.2.39 Plant Pathogen relationships (72587) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

6.2.40 Ecology: Advanced Level (72604) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

6.2.41 General Endocrinology (72614) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

6.2.42 Introduction to Biotechnology (72616) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

6.2.43 Biogeography (72617) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

6.2.44 General Entomology (72619) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

6.2.45 Evolution and ecology of birds (72623) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

6.2.46 Neural mechanisms of animal behavior (72625) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

6.2.47 Selected topics in Neurobiology (72633) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

6.2.48 Plant-environment: Physiology and Molecular Biology (72637) . . . . 152

6.2.49 Fish Fauna of Israel (72646) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

6.2.50 Purification & Expression of recombinant protein (72681) . . . . . . . 153

6.2.51 Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes (72683) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

6.2.52 Evolution (72693) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

6.2.53 Quantitative Genetics (72694) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

6.2.54 Molecular basis for cellular regulation (72730) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

6.2.55 Biochemistry and Physiology of membrane proteins (72812) . . . . . 155

6.2.56 Fundamentals and Applications of light microscope (72920) . . . . . . 155

6.2.57 Quantitative methods in marine ecology (73545) (90610) . . . . . . . . 156

6.2.58 Seminar for Computational Biology and Life Science (76550) . . . . . 156

6.2.59 Plankton (76701) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

6.2.60 Marine microbiology (76716) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

6.2.61 Functional Genomics (76880) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

6.2.62 Seminar in Developmental Genetics (86838) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

6.2.63 Selected Topics in Protein Targeting and Cell Cycle (86875) . . . . . . 158

X

6.2.64 MSc. Seminar in cellular and developmental biology (86890) . . . . . 158

6.2.65 Physiology of the nervous system A (76900) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

6.2.66 Central Nervous System Physiology (76901) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

6.2.67 Selected topics in cerebellum research (78818) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

6.2.68 Graduate seminar in Brain Sciences & Behaviour (78844) . . . . . . . 159

6.2.69 The theory and practice of neural data analysis (78891) . . . . . . . . . 159

6.2.70 Genetic Analysis A (88815) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

6.2.71 Graduate seminar in Genetics (88890) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

6.2.72 Bacteria in their natural environment (89305) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

6.2.73 Introduction to Environmental Quality Sciences (89309) . . . . . . . . 161

6.2.74 Environmental Microbiology (89777) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

6.2.75 Animal Evolution (90106) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

6.2.76 Topics in ecology: Undergraduate seminar (90604) . . . . . . . . . . . 162

6.2.77 Evolutionary Biology and Game Theory (90612) . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

6.2.78 Scientific approaches in ecology (90710) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

6.2.79 Conservation Ecology (90820) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

6.2.80 NMR (92619) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

6.2.81 Molecular physiology and biochemistry of transport systems (92620) . 163

6.2.82 Protein Design and Evolution (92623) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

6.2.83 Separation methods in Biochemistry (92812) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

6.2.84 Molecular processes in the brain (92842) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

6.2.85 Biochemistry and Physiology of transition metals (92848) . . . . . . . 164

6.2.86 Structural Analysis of protein structure (92849) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

6.2.87 Research seminar in Biochemistry (92981) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

6.2.88 Biotechnology Seminar (94707) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

6.3 Student information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

XI

7 Infrastructure 186

7.1 Teaching Facilities Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

7.1.1 Teaching Laboratories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

7.1.2 Collections of Biological Specimen for Teaching & Research . . . . . 186

7.1.3 Computer Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

7.1.4 E-learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

7.1.5 BioSearch Database - http://biosearch.huji.ac.il/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

7.2 Research Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

7.2.1 Researchers Labs and General Room Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

7.3 General Research Facilities of the ILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

7.3.1 Interdepartmental Instrumentation Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

7.3.2 The Electron Microscopy Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

7.3.3 The Confocal Microscope Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

7.3.4 The BIACORE Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

7.3.5 The Wolfson Center for Applied Structural Biology . . . . . . . . . . . 194

7.3.5.1 NMR Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

7.3.5.2 The X-ray Crystallographic Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

7.3.5.3 The Protein Expression Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

7.3.5.4 The Protein Purification Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

7.3.6 The Center for Genomic Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

7.4 Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

7.4.1 The Harman Science Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

8 Self Assessment of Animal Sciences at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life

Sciences 200

XII

List of Tables

1.1 ILS members that contribute towards research into Animal Evolution, Ecology

and Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.2 ILS members that contribute towards research into Animal Physiology . . . . . 4

1.3 ILS members that contribute towards research into Animal Genetic Basis of

Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

6.1 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

6.2 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

6.3 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

6.4 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

6.5 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

6.6 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

6.7 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

6.8 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

6.9 Courses Relating to Animal Sciences IX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

6.10 Undergraduate degrees awarded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

6.11 Statistics on registered and accepted first year students . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

6.12 Statistics on averages of high school grades of students . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

6.13 Current Ph.D. students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

6.14 Current Ph.D. students cont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

XIII

6.15 Current M.Sc. students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

6.16 Current M.Sc. students cont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

6.17 Graduated Ph.D. students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

6.18 Graduated Ph.D. students cont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

6.19 Graduated M.Sc. students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

6.20 Graduated M.Sc. students cont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

XIV

Chapter 1

Preface: Animal Sciences at the

Alexander Silberman Institute of Life

Sciences

1.1 Introduction

The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) is the largest of the five research insti-

tutes in the Faculty of Sciences. Some 63 faculty members in the Institute participate in research

and teaching that cover a wide range of fields such as Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Molecular

Biology, Genetics, Evolution Systematics & Ecology and Environmental and Plant Sciences.

Except for a few fields in biology that are directly related to medicine (immunology, medical

microbiology and virology) the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences encompasses

research groups that represent most of the topics in modern biology.

The mission of the ILS is to carry out state-of-the-art basic research and provide educational

opportunities by training students at all university levels in modern Biology. The operation of

the ILS within the Faculty of Sciences at the Edmond Safra Campus offers unique opportu-

nities for interdisciplinary research and teaching programs, collaborations with researchers in

1

1.2. Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behavior

other institutes and an easy access to infrastructure equipment that exists in Givat Ram (such as

computation, nanotechnology imaging, chemical analyses, genome center, etc).

The revolution in biology in the past 30 years, due mainly to advances in molecular biology,

has unfolded an unprecedented understanding of fundamental life processes. Thus, biomedical

research has taken the lead and made major advances and breakthroughs for the benefit of human

health.

Research in animal biology constitutes an inherent part of life sciences in general and in

our institute in particular. Animals are being studied as the subject of research per se, as model

systems for human diseases and as model systems for exploring various biological problems.

Besides learning about animal-specific phenomena, research on animals uncover general life

processes and reveals novel principles in biology. However, it is important to note that animal

sciences per se are not taught at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences.

Here we describe animal research at the ILS at three selected levels: from the molecular,

through the whole organism to the individual functioning in a society.

1.2 Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behavior

Animals are being studied as individuals and members of societies and as complete ecological

systems. The unifying concept of the various research groups and topics is the interest in uncov-

ering the role of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment,

as factors that shape the evolution of organisms and their distribution on earth.

Recently, a new field entitled movement ecology was conceived and formulated at the de-

partment of ESE (evolution, systematics and ecology). Additionally, research carried out at

the department covers a wide spectrum of fields including animal behavior, micro- and macro-

evolution, population and community ecology, landscape ecology, oceanography, conservation

biology, systematic biology, and biogeography. Most research fields combine theoretical and

experimental approaches and studies are conducted in both terrestrial and marine environments.

Faculty members that contribute towards the aforementioned research are listed in Table 1.1.

Animal Life Sciences at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences 2

1.3. Animal Physiology

Table 1.1: Alexander Silberman Life Sceinces Institue members that contribute towards researchinto Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behavior.

Name Academic Rank DepartmentRan Nathan Associate Professor Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsGuy Sella Lecturer Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsSalit Kark Senior Lecturer Ecology, Evolution & Systematics

Avi Shmida Professor Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsGuy Bloch Associate Professor Ecology, Evolution & Systematics

Ariel D Chipman Senior Lecturer Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsUzi Motro Professor Ecology, Evolution & Systematics

Joseph Heller Associate Professor Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsDan Tchernov Lecturer Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsAmatzia Genin Professor Ecology, Evolution & SystematicsRonen Kadmon Professor Ecology, Evolution & Systematics

1.3 Animal Physiology

Intradepartmental efforts are invested in studies aimed at solving basic questions related to the

function of the whole organism. These include, for example, Metal biology in the normal and

disease states, in diagnosis and treatment of iron overload and diseases of iron accumulation.

Motor control of the flexible arms of the octopus, as a basic science problem and an inspira-

tion for robotics. Cellular physiology of CNS neurons aimed at revealing the role and modus

operandi of the cerebellum. Visual perception and its neural correlates using functional imaging

of the human visual system and active vision: the interplay between perception, attention, and

eye movements. Neural mechanisms whereby injury provokes sensory dysfunction and chronic

pain, pathophysiology of injured nerve and abnormal impulse generation and regeneration using

animal models of chronic pain states and pain relief. Faculty members that contribute towards

the aforementioned research are listed in Table 1.2.


1.4. Animal Genetic Basis of Traits

Table 1.2: Alexander Silberman Life Sceinces Institue members that contribute towards researchinto Animal Physiology.

Name Academic Rank DepartmentIoav Cabantchik Professor Biological ChemistryMarshall Devor Professor Cell & Animal Biology

Adi Mizrahi Senior Lecturer NeurobiologyIsrael Nelken Associate Professor Neurobiology

Binyamin Hochner Associate Professor NeurobiologyYosef Yarom Professor Neurobiology

Table 1.3: Alexander Silberman Life Sceinces Institue members that contribute towards researchinto Animal Genetic Basis of Traits.

Name Academic Rank DepartmentHermona Soreq Professor Biological ChemistryAriel Darvasi Associate Professor Genetics

Sagiv Shifman Senior Lecturer GeneticsSebastian Kadener Senior Lecturer Biological Chemistry

1.4 Animal Genetic Basis of Traits

A third group of studies represent our efforts in understanding how the genetic makeover and

the dynamic regulation over gene expression affect the function and well being of an organism,

a human being and/or a model organism. Long term effects of stress were identified at the

molecular, cellular and whole organism levels. Moreover, the molecular basis of the response

to stress, cholinergic drugs, pesticides and biological weapons is being identified. We ask what

the role of transcriptional regulation in the control of circadian rhythms, and especially the role

of miRNA-mediated control in the regulation of circadian behavior and sleep in Drosophila

is. Genetics of complex traits and of neurological / psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia

and autism are also being at the focus of research in two laboratories. Faculty members that

contribute towards the aforementioned research are listed in Table 1.3.


1.5. Animal collections

1.5 Animal collections

The National Natural History Collections at the Hebrew University contain a unique diverse

collection of the fauna of the Middle East and its adjacent seas, assembled since the last part

of the 19th century. They are among the most complete existing collections of their kind in the

Middle East and serve as a safe repository and reliable baseline for the flora and fauna of Is-

rael. Unprecedented global environment changes that impact the Mediterranean basin are likely

to initiate modifications in environmental processes and in structure and function of biological

ecosystems. Due to the geographic position of Israel at the meeting point of several biogeo-

graphic and climatic regions, the biodiversity of Israel has the potential to serve as a sensitive

indicator for large-scale regional and global changes. Much of the outlook of the collections

research work in the future will be to record and identify these changes using modern methods

such as molecular systematics (molecular taxonomy) and geographical information systems.


Chapter 2

Animal Evolution, Ecology and

Behavior

2.1 Introduction

The Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology (ESE) was established within the Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences to promote modern research and teaching in the fields of Ecology

and Evolutionary Biology. The unifying concept is the role of interactions among organisms

and between organisms and their environment, as factors that shape the evolution of organisms

and their distribution on earth. Research carried out at the department can be classified into four

major themes: evolution, ecology, behavior and systematics, the latter has recently shifted to a

separate unit of the university’s scientific collections. More specific themes vary across a wide

spectrum of fields including animal behavior, micro- and macro-evolution, population and com-

munity ecology, movement ecology, landscape ecology, oceanography, conservation biology,

biogeography, systematic biology and developmental biology.

Research projects are supported by competitive grants and most of them combine theoretical

and experimental approaches, carried out in the lab and in the field in both terrestrial and marine

environments. The department comprises of eleven active labs, six of them are headed by faculty

6

2.1. Introduction

members recruited over the last seven years. There are approximately twenty technical / research

staff members, including taxonomic specialists in (plant and) various animal groups.

The department attracts excellent graduate students in the fields of ecology, behavior and

evolutionary biology, who are deeply involved in teaching and various other departmental ac-

tivities. The departments labs are equipped with advanced technologies for molecular analyses,

experimental studies of animal behavior, geographical information systems, and remote sensing

(see more below). The department runs two weekly seminars and teaches a variety of courses

in the fields of ecology, evolution and behaviors. It houses the GIS Center of the Hebrew Uni-

versity and has a leading role in research and teaching carried out in the Heinz Steinitz Marine

Biology Laboratory in Eilat.

The ESE department has a long tradition of animal-related research covering a variety of

research disciplines, diverse taxonomic groups, and a broad range of research methodologies

across multiple levels of organization. More specific description of these four components is

provided below.

2.1.1 Research Disciplines

Three major disciplines are currently in the forefront of the department’s animal-related re-

search: Evolution (Bloch, Chipman, Heller, Sella, Shmida and Tchernov), Ecology (Genin,

Kadmon, Kark, Motro, Nathan, Shmida and Tchernov) and Behavior (Bloch, Genin, Motro,

Nathan and Shmida).

2.1.2 Taxonomic Groups

The taxonomic groups covered in our recent studies include corals (Tchernov and Genin), mol-

luscs (Heller and Kadmon), various invertebrate zooplanktonic taxa (Genin), beetles (Shmida),

flies (Sella and Shmida), butterflies (Kark), ants (Nathan), bees (Bloch, Kadmon, Motro and

Shmida), centipedes, crustaceans and other insects (Chipman), fish (Genin and Kark), birds

(Kadmon, Kark, Motro and Nathan) and mammals (Kadmon, Kark, Motro, Nathan and Sella).


2.2. Individual researchers

2.1.3 Research Methodologies

Many of the research projects involve field observations and surveys (Bloch, Heller, Kadmon,

Kark, Motro, Nathan and Tchernov), field measurements using advanced techniques (Genin,

Kark, Motro, Nathan and Tchernov) and field experimental manipulations (Bloch, Genin, Kark,

Motro, Nathan and Tchernov). Another bulk of methodologies includes simple observations

and measurements in the lab (Bloch, Chipman, Heller, Kadmon, Kark, Motro, Nathan and Tch-

ernov), lab measurements using advanced techniques (Bloch, Chipman, Genin, and Tchernov)

and lab experimental manipulations (Bloch, Chipman, Genin, Heller, Motro, Motro and Tch-

ernov). Various labs also carry our genome sequence analyses (Bloch, Chipman, Sella and

Tchernov), various population genetics analyses (Kark, Motro, Nathan, Sella and Tchernov) as

well as phylogenic analyses (Bloch, Chipman, Heller and Tchernov). Theoretical work using

various models is a major theme in several labs (Kadmon, Motro, Nathan and Sella). Finally,

as mentioned above, the department hosts the university’s GIS center, which serves various ESE

labs in particular (Kadmon, Kark, Motro and Nathan).

2.1.4 Levels of Organization

Recent studies in ESE span from the level of nucleotide sequence of the genome (Bloch, Chip-

man, Sella, Tchernov) through gene expression (Bloch, Chipman and Tchernov), to studies of

the organ development (Chipman). The unifying levels of organization for ESE research are,

however, the entire individual organism (all labs except Kadmon and Sella) and populations (all

labs except Bloch, Chipman and Shmida). We also study social groups of individual organisms

(Bloch, Genin, Motro and Nathan), as well as ecological communities (Genin, Heller, Kadmon

and Kark) and ecosystems (Genin, Kark and Tchernov).

2.2 Individual researchers

2.2.1 Ran Nathan

Academic Rank: Associate Professor



Courses taught:

• 2002-2003 Plant Sciences A Undergraduate level, Dept of Life Sciences, BGU.

• 2003 The Plant World: Flowering Plants Undergraduate level, Dept of Life Sciences, BGU.

• 2002-2003 Research Project Undergraduate level, Dept of Life Sciences, BGU.

• 2002-2003 Tutoring in Instructive Reading Graduate level, Dept of Life Sciences, BGU.

• 2003-present Guided project in biological research (72329) Undergraduate level. A. Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences, HUJ. Since 2003, 3-5 projects are being supervised every

year.

• 2004-present Evolution and Ecology of Birds (72623) Undergraduate level. Dept of Evolu-

tion, Systematics and Ecology, HUJ.

• 2004 Undergraduate seminar in evolution, systematics, ecology and behavior (72520) Un-

dergraduate level. Dept of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, HUJ.

• 2005,2007- present Advanced Ecology (72604) Undergraduate level. Dept of Evolution,

Systematics and Ecology, HUJ

Personal Information: Born: April 1, 1962; Eilat, Israel Married, 3 children

2.2.1.1 Education

B.Sc Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Graduated with distinction (1989-1992;

Dean’s list of academic excellence, Faculty of Science, in each of the three years)

M.Sc. Dept of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1992-

1994; degree awarded during direct-Ph.D. program)

Ph.D. Dept of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ad-

visors: Prof. Uriel N. Safriel and Prof. I. Noy-Meir. Dissertation: ”Spatiotemporal dynamics

of seed dispersal by wind in Aleppo pine” (1994-2000).

Post-Doctoral Fellow Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University,

USA, Prof. Simon A. Levin’s lab. Post-doctoral fellowships from the Schonbrunn Foundation,

the Andrew Mellon Foundation, and the National Science Foundation, USA (1999-2001).



2.2.1.2 Graduate students supervised (2002-date):

M.Sc. students (graduation year 2002-2008)

Ofir Altstein* 2001-2004, ”Seed dispersal of a fleshy fruited desert shrub by birds: Effects

of gut passage, disperser movement and local spatial structure on seed dispersion patterns”.

Graduated cum laude.

*Co-supervisor: Prof. Ido Izhaki (Haifa University)

David Troupin 2002-2005, ”Genetic structure and seed dispersal in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepen-

sis)”. Graduated magna cum laude.

Orr Spiegel 2003-2006, ”Scale-dependent frugivory in a desert ecosystem”. Graduated summa

cum laude.

Tal Avgar 2004-2007, ”Consequences of ant foraging behavior on plant recruitment patterns”.

Graduated magna cum laude.

Luba Broitman* 2004-2007, ”Spatially-explicit models of seed dispersal by animals”. Gradu-

ated magna cum laude.

*Co-supervisor: Dr Guy Sella (ESE, LSI, HUJ)

Nir Horvitz 2006-present, ”Effects of atmospheric conditions on migrating birds”.

David Shoami 2007-present, ”Effects of fire on pine spatial genetic structure”.

Itai Shanni 2008-present, ”Migration and stopover of Cranes in Hula Valley”.

Ph.D. students (graduation year) :

Nir Sapir 2002-present, ”Integrating high-resolution radio telemetry and atmospheric numeri-

cal model to study European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) migration over southern Israel”.

Ana Trakhtenbrot 2003-present, ”Fragmentation and dispersal in plant populations”.

Ofer Steinitz 2003-present, ”Factors determining the genetic structure of natural Aleppo pine

(Pinus halepensis) populations”.

Asaf Tsoar 2004-present, ”Seed dispersal by the Egyptian fruit-bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus),

in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment”.



Yoav Motro* 2005-present, ”Regulation of rodent populations by barn owls and its effects on

agricultural yield”

*Co-supervisor: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov (Tel Aviv University)

Sue Frumin* 2005-present, ”Gene flow by dispersal in inbreeding annuals of the Poaceae”.

*Co-supervisor: Prof. Uzi Plitmann (Botany, LSI, HUJ)

Orr Spiegel 2006-present, ”Movement ecology of foraging vultures”.

Yotam Orchan 2008-present, ”Navigation and foraging of Stone Curlews”.

2.2.1.3 Academic Positions Held

• 1999-2001 Research Associate and Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Ecology and Evo-

lutionary Biology, Princeton University, USA, Prof. Simon A. Levin’s lab.

• 09/2001-03/2003 Lecturer, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,

Israel.

• 04/2003-09/2003 Senior Lecturer, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of

the Negev, Israel.

• 10/2003-08/2005 Senior Lecturer, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, Alexan-

der Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

Israel.

• 09/2005-present Associate Professor, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology,

Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

Israel.

2.2.1.4 Book Chapters

1. Cain, M. L, R. Nathan, and S. A. Levin. (Eds.) 2003. Long-distance dispersal. Special

Feature in Ecology 84: 1943-2020.

2. Nathan, R. (Ed.) 2005. New perspectives on long-distance dispersal. Special Issue in Diver-

sity & Distributions 11: 125-181.



3. Bullock, J. M. and R. Nathan. (Eds.) 2008. Plant dispersal across multiple scales: linking

models and reality. Special Feature in Journal of Ecology 96: 567-697.

4. Nathan, R. (Ed.) 2008. Movement Ecology. Special Issue in Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences USA 105: 19050-19125.

2.2.1.5 Peer-reviewed publications

1. Mari, L., R.Casagrandi, M. Gatto, T. Avgar, and R. Nathan. 2008. Movement strategies of

seed predators as determinants of plant recruitment patterns. The American Naturalist 172:

694-711.

2. Nathan, R., F. Schurr, O. Spiegel, O. Steinitz, A. Trakhtenbrot, and A. Tsoar. 2008. Mecha-

nisms of long-distance seed dispersal. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23: 638-647

3. Wright, S. J., A. Trakhtenbrot, G. Bohrer, M. Detto, G. G. Katul, N. Horvitz, H. C. Muller-

Landau, F. A. Jones, and R. Nathan. 2008. Understanding strategies for seed dispersal by

wind under contrasting atmospheric conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences USA 105: 19084-19089.

4. Holyoak, M., R. Casagrandi, R. Nathan, E. Revilla, and O. Spiegel. 2008. Trends in the

study of movement ecology: What are we missing? Proceedings of the National Academy

of Sciences USA 105: 19060-19065.

5. Nathan, R., W. M. Getz, E. Revilla, M. Holyoak, R. Kadmon, D. Saltz, and P. E. Smouse.

2008. A movement ecology paradigm for unifying organismal movement research. Pro-

ceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 105: 19052-19059.

6. Nathan, R.. 2008. An emerging movement ecology paradigm. Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences USA 105: 19050-19051.

7. Avgar, T., N. Horvitz, L. Broitman, and R. Nathan. 2008. How movement properties affect

prey encounter rate by ambush versus active predators? The American Naturalist 172: 593-

595

8. Schurr, F. M., O. Steinitz, and R. Nathan. 2008. Plant fecundity and seed dispersal in spa-



tially heterogeneous environments: models, mechanisms and estimation. Journal of Ecology

96: 628- 641.

9. Bohrer, G., G. G. Katul, R. Nathan, R. L. Walko, and R. Avissar. 2008. Effects of canopy

heterogeneity, seed abscission, and inertia on wind-driven dispersal kernels of tree seeds.

Journal of Ecology 96: 569-580.

10. Bullock, J. M., and R. Nathan. 2008. Plant dispersal across multiple scales: linking models

and reality. Journal of Ecology 96: 567-568.

11. Avgar, T., I. Giladi, and R. Nathan. 2008. Linking traits of foraging animals to spatial

patterns of plants: social and solitary ants generate opposing patterns of surviving seeds.

Ecology Letters 11:224-234.

12. Spiegel, O. and R. Nathan. 2007. Incorporating dispersal distance into the disperser effec-

tiveness framework: frugivorous birds provide complementary dispersal to plants in a patchy

environment. Ecology Letters 10: 718728.

13. Van der Veken, S., J. Rogister, K. Verheyen, M. Hermy, and R. Nathan. 2007. Over the

(range) edge: a 45-year transplant experiment with the perennial forest herb Hyacinthoides

non-scripta. Journal of Ecology 95:343-351.

14. Gonzalez-Martinez, S. C., J. Burczyk, R. Nathan, N. Nanos, L. Gil, and R. Alia. 2006.

Effective gene dispersal and female reproductive success in Mediterranean maritime pine

(Pinus pinaster Aiton). Molecular Ecology 15:4577-4588.

15. Troupin, D., R. Nathan, and G. G. Vendramin. 2006. Analysis of spatial genetic struc-

ture in an expanding Pinus halepensis population reveals development of fine-scale genetic

clustering over time. Molecular Ecology 15: 3617-3630.

16. Nathan R. 2006 . Long distance dispersal of plants. Science 313: 786-788.

17. Buckley, Y. M., S. Anderson, C. P. Cattarall, R. T. Corlett, T. Engel, C. R. Gosper, R. Nathan,

D. M. Richardson, M. Setter, O. Spiegel, G. Vivan-Smith, F. A. Voigt, J. E. S. Weir, and D. A.

Westcott. 2006. Management of plant invasions mediated by frugivore interactions. Journal

of Applied Ecology 43: 848857.



18. Neilson, R. P., L. F. Pitelka, A. M. Solomon, R. Nathan, G. F. Midgley, J. M. V. Fragoso,

H. Lischke and K. Thompson. Forecasting regional to global plant migration in response to

climate change: challenges and directions. BioScience 55: 749-795.

19. Bohrer, G., R. Nathan, and S. Volis. 2005. Effects of long-distance dispersal for metapopu-

lation survival and genetic structure at ecological time and spatial scales. Journal of Ecology

93: 1029 1040.

20. Katul, G. G., A. Porporato, R. Nathan, M. Siqueira, M. B. Soons, D. Poggi, H. S. Horn, and

S. A. Levin. 2005. Mechanistic analytical models for long-distance seed dispersal by wind.

The American Naturalist 16: 368-381.

21. Nathan, R. and G.G. Katul. 2005. Foliage shedding in deciduous forests lifts up long-

distance seed dispersal by wind. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102:

8251-8256.

22. Trakhtenbrot, A., R. Nathan, G. Perry, and D. M. Richardson. 2005. The importance of long-

distance dispersal in biodiversity conservation. Diversity and Distributions 11: 173-181.

23. Nathan, R., N. Sapir, A. Trakhtenbrot, G. G. Katul, G. Bohrer, M. Otte, R. Avissar, M. B.

Soons, H. S. Horn, M. Wikelski, and S. A. Levin. 2005. Long-distance biological transport

processes through the air: can nature’s complexity be unfolded in-silico? Diversity and

Distributions 11: 131-137.

24. Nathan, R. 2005. Long-distance dispersal research: building a network of yellow brick

roads. Diversity and Distributions 11: 125-130.

25. Nathan, R. 2005. Transport phenomena research: journeying towards integration. Trends in

Ecology and Evolution 20: 65-66.

26. Nathan, R., and G. Ne’eman. 2004. Spatiotemporal dynamics of recruitment in Aleppo pine

(Pinus halepensis Miller). Plant Ecology 171: 123-137.

27. Ne’eman, G., S. Goubitz, and R. Nathan. 2004. Reproductive traits of Pinus halepensis in

the light of fire a critical review. Plant Ecology 171: 69-79.

28. Goubitz, S., R. Nathan, D. Roitemberg, A. Shmida, and G. Ne’eman. 2004. Canopy seed



bank structure in relation to fire, tree size and density. Plant Ecology 173: 190-201.

29. Nathan, R., and R. Casagrandi. 2004. A simple mechanistic model of seed dispersal, preda-

tion and plant establishment: Janzen-Connell and beyond. Journal of Ecology 92: 733-746.

30. Soons, M. B., R. Nathan and G.G. Katul. 2004. Human effects on long-distance wind

dispersal and colonization by grassland plants. Ecology 85: 3069-3079.

31. Soons, M. B., G.W. Heil, R. Nathan and G.G. Katul. 2004. Determinants of long-distance

seed dispersal in grasslands. Ecology 85: 3056-3068.

32. Levin, S.A., H. C. Muller-Landau, R. Nathan and J. Chave. 2003. Ecology and evolution of

seed dispersal: a theoretical perspective. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and System-

atics 34: 575-604.

33. Nathan, R. 2003. Seeking the secrets of dispersal. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18:

275-276.

34. Higgins, S.I., J.S. Clark, R. Nathan, T. Hovestadt, F. Schurr , J.M.V. Fragoso, M.R. Aguiar,

E. Ribbens and S. Lavorel. 2003. Forecasting plant migration rates: managing uncertainties

for risk assessment. Journal of Ecology 87:659-669.

35. Nathan, R., G. Perry, J. T. Cronin, A. E. Strand, and M. L. Cain. 2003. Methods for estimat-

ing long-distance dispersal. Oikos 103: 261-273.

36. Higgins, S. I., R. Nathan, and M. L. Cain. 2003. Are long-distance dispersal events usually

caused by nonstandard means of dispersal? Ecology 84: 1945-1956.

37. Cain, M. L, R. Nathan, and S. A. Levin. 2003. Long-distance dispersal. Ecology 84: 1943-

1944.

38. Shmida, A., O. Fragman, R. Nathan, Z. Shamir and Y. Sapir. 2002. The Red Plants of

Israel: a proposal of updated and revised list of plant species protected by the law. Ecologia

Mediterranea 28:55-64.

39. Nathan, R., G. G. Katul, H. S. Horn, S.M. Thomas, R. Oren, R. Avissar, S. W. Pacala, and

S. A. Levin. 2002. Mechanisms of long-distance dispersal of seeds by wind. Nature 418:

409-413.



2.2.1.6 Research grants (2002-date)

• From seed dispersal to population spread: mechanistic models and field data. The Israeli

Science Foundation 2002-2006 Total: 380,000 USD

• Integrating high-resolution telemetry and atmospheric model to study bird migration. The

US-Israel Binational Science Foundation Start-Up Grant 2003-2005 Total: 60,000 USD

• Fleshy-fruited plants and frugivores in desert ecosystems. The International Arid Land Con-

sortium 2003-2006 Total: 100,000 USD

• Advanced telemetry I The Hebrew University Intramural Innovation Award 2004 Total:

40,000 USD

• Collaborative Research: Seed dispersal by wind and plant recruitment in tropical forests an

interdisciplinary investigation across multiple scales. The US National Science Foundation

2005-2008 Total: 444,791 USD

• Advanced telemetry II The Hebrew University Intramural Applied Research Award 2005/6

Total: 30,000 USD

• Can we address the immense difficulty in quantifying, understanding and predicting rare

but critical events of long-distance seed dispersal in heterogeneous landscapes? The Israeli

Science Foundation, the Bikura (FIRST) program 2005-2008 Total: 150,000 USD

• Coupling high-resolution telemetry and detailed atmospheric models to study the response

of flying migratory birds to fine-scale variation in atmospheric conditions. The US-Israel

Binational Science Foundation 2005-2009 Total: 188,000 USD

• Advanced telemetry III The Hebrew University Intramural Applied Research Award 2006/7

Total: 30,000 USD

• Afforestation effects on genetic structure of native Aleppo pine populations. Israel Nature

and Parks Authority 2006/7 Total: 27,000 USD

• The effect of fire on spatial and temporal changes in the genetic structure of perennial plants:

Pinus halepensis in Israel as a case study The Israeli Science Foundation 2007-2011 Total:

237,000 USD



• Afforestation effects on genetic structure of native Aleppo pine populations: quantifying

gene flow. Israel Nature and Parks Authority. 2008 Total: 27,000

• The effect of atmospheric conditions on bird migration studied by high-resolution radar and

numerical atmospheric model. The Ring Research Foundation. 2008 Total: 30,000 USD

2.2.2 Guy Sella

Academic Rank: Lecturer

Courses taught:

• Seminar in Computational Biology (M.Sc.).

• 1st Year Etgar course (B.Sc.).

• Evolutionary Biology Course (B.Sc.).

• Advanced reading course in molecular evolution (M.Sc.).

Personal Information: April 14, 1970, Kfar-Saba, Israel.

2.2.2.1 Education:

B.Sc. (summa cum laude)1993, Tel Aviv University, Combined Mathematics-Physics program.

M.Sc. (summa cum laude) 1997, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The multi-disciplinary Neu-

ral Computation Program. Advisors: Prof. Itamar Pitowsky & Prof. Eva Jablonka Visiting

Scholar 1997-2000, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Stanford CA, USA, Department of Biologi-

cal Sciences.

Ph.D (summa cum laude in Mathematics) 2001, Tel Aviv University. Advisors: Prof. Ilan Eshel

& Prof. Marcus W. Feldman.

Koshland postdoctoral Scholar 2001-2003, Weizmann Inst. of Sciences, Department of Math-

ematics and Computer Science.

Horowitz Postdoctoral fellow 2003-2005, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Center for the study

of rationality.





Luba Broitman* (2007), Thesis: ”Optimal Animal Movement in Heterogeneous Environments:

Behavioral Mechanisms and Resulting Patterns”

Eyal Elyashiv (2006-present), Thesis: ”Variation in the intensity of purifying selection: An

analysis of genome-wide polymorphism data from two closely related Yeast species”

Etam Benger (2006 - present)

Oren Kolodny (2008 - present)


• Visiting Professor , 2005 2006, Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences.


1. G. Sella and D. H. Ardell (2002). The Impact of Message Mutation on the Fitness of a Ge-

netic Code. In Evolution as Computation: DIMACS workshop, Princeton, 1999. Landwe-

ber, L. F. and Winfree, E., eds. Springer (2002).

2. Evolution as Computation. Springer-Verlag Series on Natural Computing. Early version of

(4) in papers.


1. G. Sella and D. H. Ardell (2002). The Impact of Message Mutation on the Fitness of a

Genetic Code. Journal of Molecular Evolution 54:638-651.

2. D. H. Ardell and G. Sella (2002). No Accident: Genetic Codes Freeze in Error- Correcting

Patterns of the Standard Genetic Code. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

357:1625-1642.

3. G. Sella and A. E. Hirsh (2005). The Application of Statistical Physics to Evolutionary

Biology. PNAS 102: 9541-9546.



4. G. Sella and D. H. Ardell (2006). The Coevolution of Genes and Genetic Codes: Crick’s

Frozen Accident Revisited. Journal of Molecular Evolution 63: 297-313.

5. J. M. Macpherson* , G. Sella* , J. C. Davis , and D. A. Petrov (2007). Genomewide Spatial

Correspondence between Nonsynonymous Divergence and Neutral Polymorphism Reveals

Extensive Adaptation in Drosophila. Genetics 171: 2083–2099.

6. G. Sella (2008) An Exact Steady State Solution of Fisher’s Geometric Model and Other

Models. Theoretical Population Biology.

7. Cai JJ , Macpherson JM , Sella G , Petrov DA (2009) Pervasive Hitchhiking at Coding and

Regulatory Sites in Humans. PLoS Genet 5(1): e1000336. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000336


• Israeli Science Foundation (ISF), 2007-2008, $40,000 per-annum, Title: ”Molecular Adap-

tation and its Association with Function in Drosophila”.

2.2.3 Salit Kark

Academic Rank: Senior Lecturer

Courses taught:

• Conservation Ecology

• Evolution

• BSc Seminar in ESE

• Etgar program

Personal Information: Born: 20 April 1967, Jerusalem, Israel Married, 2 children

2.2.3.1 Education:

B.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1989, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biology.

M.Sc. 1994. The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Environmental Sciences.



Ph.D. 2000, The Hebrew University: ESE, Life Sciences. Advisors: Prof. Uriel Safriel and

Prof. Imanuel Noy-Meir: ”Within-population diversity in the distribution range: Partridges as

a research model”.



Yotam Orchan (2006). ”Interactions among invasive birds and their effect on establishment:

an experimental study.”

Orit Nir (2006). ”Changes in the coral Seriatopora hystrix along the depth gradient from its

shallow to its deep distribution range in the Gulf of Eilat”. (co-supervised by Dr. Dan Tcher-

nov, HU).

Assaf Schwartz (Dec 2007). ”Patterns and processes shaping the success of urban and invasive

alien birds.”

Gilad Bino (2007). ”Temporal and numerical response of the Golden jackal and Red fox to a

manipulation in resources” (co-supervised by Prof. David Saltz, BGU).

Oded Levanoni (2007). ”The role of altitudinal gradients and human impact in shaping butter-

fly diversity in Mt. Hermon: a comparison of field, GIS and remote sensing approaches.”

Maya Sella (2008) ”The spatial dynamics of the Gazelle Valley landscape in Jerusalem between

1880-2006.” (co-supervised with Prof. Ruth Kark, Dept. of Geography, HU).

Ph.D. students (graduation year)

Eran Brokovich (ongoing). ”The role of ecological gradients in shaping fish diversity in the

Red Sea. Bathymetrical distribution of coral reef fishes: patterns and processes.” (co-supervised

by Dr. Moshe Kiflawi, BGU.

Ohad Hatzofe (ongoing). The griffon vulture in the Mediterranean Basin: a metapopulation

analysis.




• 1999 - Visiting Scholar at San Francisco State University, The Center for Tropical Research,

(Host: Prof. Thomas Smith). Topic: Biodiversity across ecotones.

• 1999 - 2000 - Post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, The Center for Conservation Bi-

ology, Dept. of Biological Sciences.

• 2000 - 2002 - Post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, Dept. of Biological Sciences.

• From Nov 2008 Honorary Reader (=Adjunct Associate Professor) at The University of

Queensland, Australia.


1. Kark, S. PI, Volis, S. C and Novoplansky, A. C 2004. Biodiversity along core-periphery

distribution clines. In: Shachak, M., Gosz, J. R. and Pickett, S. T. A. and Perevolotsky, A.

(eds.). Chapter 3 in: Biodiversity in drylands. Pg 30-56. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

2. Polis, G.A. PI, Ayal Y. C, Bachi, A. C, Dall, S. C, Goldberg, D. C, Holt, R. C, Kark, S. C,

Kotler, B. C Lubin, Y. C Mitchell, W. C 2004. United Framework I: Interspecific interac-

tions, intraspecific processes, and species diversity. In: Shachak, M., Gosz, J. R. and Pickett,

S. T. A. and Perevolotsky, A. (eds.). Chapter 8 in: Biodiversity in drylands. Pg. 122-152.

Oxford University Press, Oxford.

3. Kark, S. PI. 2007. Effects of ecotones on biodiversity. In: Levin, S. (ed.) Encyclopedia of

Biodiversity, 2nd Edition. Elsevier, Oxford. Pg. 1-10. (Invited chapter).

4. 4. Kark, S. PI, Solarz, W. C, Chiron, F. F, Clergeau, P. C, Shirley, S. F. 2009. Alien birds,

amphibians and reptiles of Europe. In: DAISIE (ed.) Handbook of Alien species in Europe,

Springer, Dordrecht. Pg. 105-118 (Invited chapter).




1. Lens, L. PI, Van Dongen, S. C, Kark, S. C and Matthysen, E. C 2002. Fluctuating asymmetry

as an indicator of fitness: Can we bridge the gap between studies? Biological Reviews 77:

27-38. (Review Article)

2. Yom-Tov, Y.PI, Benyamini, Y.C and Kark, S. C. 2002. Bergmann’s rule, global warming

and body mass - are they related? The chukar partridge case. Journal of Zoology, London

259:449-455. (Article)

3. D’Antonio, C. M. PI,and Kark, S. C. 2002. Impacts and extent of biotic invasions in terres-

trial ecosystems. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17:202-204. (Editorial Article).

4. Kark, S. PI, Mukerji, T. C, Safriel, U. N. C, Noy-Meir, I. C, Nissani, R. C and Darvasi, A.

C. 2002. Peak phenotypic diversity in an ecotone unveiled in the chukar partridge by a novel

estimator in a dependent sample (EDS). Journal of Animal Ecology 71:1015-1029. (Article)

5. Kark, S. PI, Lens, L. C, Van Dongen, S. C and Schmidt, E. C. 2004. Asymmetry patterns

across the distribution range: Does the species matter? Biological Journal of the Linnean

Society 81: 313- 324. (Article)

6. Kark, S. PI and Sol, D. C. 2005. Establishment success across convergent Mediterranean

ecosystems: an analysis of bird introductions. Conservation Biology 19:1519-1527. (Arti-

cle)

7. Shirley, S. F and Kark, S. PI. 2006. Amassing efforts against alien invasive species in Eu-

rope. PLoS Biology 4 (8):1311-1313 (e279. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040279). (Edito-

rial Article)

8. Randi E. PI, Tabarroni, C. C and Kark, S. PI. 2006. The role of history vs. demography in

shaping genetic population structure across an ecotone: chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar)

as a case study. Diversity and Distributions 12:714-724. (Article)

9. Kark, S. PI and van Rensburg, B. J. C. Ecotones: Marginal or central areas of transition?

2006. Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution 52: 29-53. (Review Article).

10. Kark, S. PI, Alnutt, T. C, Levin, N. C, Manne, L. L. C, Williams, P. H. C. 2007. The role



of transitional areas as avian biodiversity centers. Global Ecology and Biogeography 16:

187-196. (Article).

11. Kark, S. PI, Iwaniuk, A. C, Schalimtzek, A.S and Banker, E. T, 2007. Living in the City:

Can anyone become an ”Urban Exploiter”? Journal of Biogeography 34:638-651. (Article)

12. Brokovich, E. S, Einbinder, S. S, Kark, S. C, Shashar , N. C and Kiflawi, M. C. 2007. A

deep nursery for juveniles of the zebra angelfish Genicanthus caudovittatus Environmental

Biology of Fishes 80: 1-6. (Article)

13. Barilani, M. PI, Bernard-Laurent, A. C, Mucci, N. C, Tabarroni, C. C, Kark, S. C, Garrido,

J. A. P. C and Randi, E. PI. 2007. Hybridisation with introduced chukars (Alectoris chukar)

threatens the gene pool integrity of native rock (A. Graeca) and red-legged (A. Rufa) par-

tridge populations. Biological Conservation 137: 57-69. (Article)

14. Levin N. PI, Shmida A. C, Levanoni O. S, Tamari H. S and Kark, S. PI. 2007. Predict-

ing mountain plant richness and rarity from space using satellite-derived vegetation indices.

Diversity and Distributions 13: 692703. (Article)

15. Inbar, M. PI and Kark, S. C. 2007. Gender-related developmental instability and herbivory

of Pistacia atlantica across a steep environmental gradient. Folia Geobotanica 42: 401-410.

(Article).

16. Bino, G. S, Levin, N. C, Darawshi, S. S, van der Hal, N. S, Reich-Solomon, A. T and Kark,

S. PI. 2008. Landsat derived NDVI and spectral unmixing accurately predict bird species

richness patterns in an urban landscape. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 29: 3675-

3700. (Article)

17. Shwartz, A. S, Shirley, S. F and Kark, S. PI. 2008. How do habitat variability and man-

agement regime shape the spatial heterogeneity of birds within a large Mediterranean urban

park? Landscape and Urban Planning 84: 219-229. (Article)

18. Kark, S. PI, Hadany, L. C, Safriel, U.N. C, Noy-Meir, I. C, Eldredge, N. C, Tabarroni, C.

C, Randi, E. C, 2008. How does genetic diversity change towards the range periphery? An

empirical and theoretical test. Evolutionary Ecology Research 10: 1-24. (Article)



19. Kark, S., Levin, N. and Phinn, S.. 2008. Global environmental priorities: making sense of

remote sensing. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23: 181-182. (Letter)

20. Lambdon P. W. PI, Py ek P. PI (and DAISIE research consortium partners C, authors from

my group: Kark S. C). 2008. Alien flora of Europe: species diversity, temporal trends,

geographical patterns and research needs. Preslia 80: 101149 (Article).

21. Chiron, F. F, Shirley, S. M. F and Kark, S. PI. 2009. Human-related processes drive the

richness of exotic birds in Europe. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological

Sciences, 276: 47-53 (Article).

22. Shwartz, A. S, Strubbe, D. C, Butler, C. J. C, Matthysen, E. C and Kark, S. PI. The effect of

enemy- release and climate factors on invasive birds: a regional test using the Rose-ringed

Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) as a case study, Diversity and Distributions, in press (Article).

23. Brokovich E. S, Einbinder, S. S, Shashar N. C, Kiflawi, M. PI and Kark S. PI. 2008. De-

scending to the twilight-zone: changes in coral reef fish assemblages along a depth gradient

down to 65 m. Marine Ecology Progress Series 371: 253262 (Article).

24. Bottrill M. PI, Joseph L.N. PI, Carwardine J. C, Bode M. C, Cook C. C, Game E.T. C,

Grantham H. C, Kark S. C, Linke S. C, McDonald-Madden E. C, Pressey R.L. C, Walker S.

C, Wilson K.A. C and Possingham H.P. PI. 2008. Is conservation triage just smart decision-

making? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23: 649-654. (Review Article).

25. van Rensburg, B. J. PI, Levin, N. C and Kark, S. PI, in press. Spatial congruence between

ecotones and range restricted species: implications for conservation biogeography at the

sub-continental scale. Diversity and Distributions, (Article).

26. Shirley, S. M. F and Kark, S. PI, in press. Can species traits predict impacts of alien birds in

Europe? Global Ecology and Biogeography (Article).


• Impacts of invasive birds on the local bird biodiversity (migrant and resident) in Israel The

Israel Ministry of Sciences and Technology (135,000 IS). 20042006



• The role of ecotones as biodiversity hotspots. The Israel Science Foundation (ISF). ($200,000).

20042009

• Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes along the climatic gradient in Israel - Yad Hanadiv

Grant for Promotion of the Environmental Assets in Agricultural Landscapes in Israel.

($15,000). 2005 2006

• The EU Sixth Framework Program (FP6) STREP Grant. Delivering Alien Invasive Species

Inventories for Europe ( 130,000). 20052008

• The ecology of Tomares nesimachus, an endangered butterfly species in Israel - The EU

Sixth Framework Program (FP6) ALARM (Subcontract): Assessing large-scale environ-

mental risks. ( 4,000). 20052006

• Determining global and regional conservation priorities for biodiversity hotspots: Mediter-

ranean type ecosystems as a case study - Australian Research Council (ARCIF) Linkage

International fellowship (Hugh Possingham and Salit Kark). ($AU 126,000, funds granted

in Australia). 2007- 2008

2.2.4 Avi Shmida

Academic Rank: Full Professor

Courses taught:

• 72550

• 90110

Personal Information: Born: 29 December 1946, Tel Aviv, Israel Married, 4 children

2.2.4.1 Education:

B.Sc. (summa cum laude) 1970, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biology.

M.Sc. (summa cum laude) 1972, Thesis: ”The Vegetation of Gebel Maghara - North Sinai.”

Supervisors: Prof. G. Orshan, Dr. I. Noy-Meir.



Ph.D. (Cum Laude) 1977, Thesis: ”Quantitative Analysis on the Tragacanthic Vegetation of

Mt. Hermon.” Supervisors: Prof. G. Orshan and Prof. I. Noy-Meir

Postdoctoral study 1977 1979. With R.H. Whittaker, Section of Ecology and Systematics,

Cornell University.



Arnon, Rachel (2003) - ”Pollination Ecology of Flagged Inflorescence Salvia Virdis”.

KalishSadeh Adi (2007) - ”Pollination Ecology of Xylocopa pubescens”.


Fragman, Ori (2003) - ”Reproductive Biology of Israeli geophytes”.

Sapir, Yuval (2005) - ”Pollination Ecology of Royal Irises Iris Sec. Oncocyclus”.

Claus Holtzapple (Gottingen Univ.)

Heike Kirchmeister (Marburg Iniv.)

Bill Kunin (Wash.Univ.)


• 1967 Work at the Fishery Research Station, Haifa (with Prof. Ben-Tuvia).

• 1972 - 1973 Researcher on Mt. Hermon, Nature Reserve Authority.

• 1979 - 1984 Lecturer, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

• 1984 - 1988 Senior Lecturer, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

• 1988 - 1993 Associate Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of

Jerusalem.

• 1990 - 1991 Chairman of the teaching program in Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

• 1994 - present Professor, Dep. of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Institute of Life

Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.



• 1991 - present Member of the ”Center for Rationality and Interactive Decision Theory” of

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.


1. Shmida, A. and G. Polak, 2008. the Red Plant Book: Endangered plants of Israel, vol 1, 496

pp. Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Jerusalem(in Hebrew).


1. Goubitz, S., Werger, M.J.A., Shmida, A. and Ne’eman, G. 2002. Cone abortion in Pinus

halepensis: the role of pollen quality tree size and cone location. Oikos 97: 125-133.

2. Rashkovich, E., T. Keasar, D. Cohen, and A. Shmida, 2002. Choice behavior of bees in

two- armed bandit situations: Experiments and possible decision rules. Behavioral Ecology

13:757-765. [ = Discussion paper No. 226. Center for Rationality and Interactive Decision

Theory]

3. Sapir, Y. and A. Shmida, 2002. Species concepts and speciation mode of the Oncocylus

Irises. Israel J. of Plant Sciences, 50:119-127.

4. Arafeh, R. M. H., Y. Sapir, A. Shmida, N. Iraki, O. Fragman and H. P. Comes, 2002. Patterns

of genetic and phenotypic variation in Iris haynei and I. atrofusca (Iris sect. Oncocyclus =

the Royal Irises) along an environmental gradient in Israel and the West Bank. Molecular

Ecology. 11:39-53.

5. Shmida, A., O. Fragman, R. Nathan, Z. Shamir and Y. Sapir, 2002. The Red Plants of Israel:

a proposal of updated and revised list of plant species protected by the law. . Ecologia

Mediterranea 28 (1):55-64.

6. Sapir, Y., A. Shmida, O. Fragman, and H.P. Comes, 2002. Morphological variation of the

Oncocyclus Irises (Iris: Iridaceae) in the Southern Levant. Botanical Journal of the Linnean

Society, 139:369-382.

7. Sapir, Y., A. Shmida, and O. Fragman, 2003. Constructing Red Number for setting conser-



vation priorities of endangered plant species: Israel flora as a test case. Journal for Nature

Conservation 11(2), 91-108..

8. Remaudiere,G., M. Inbar, J. J. Menier and A.Shmida, 2003, Un nouveau Geoica gallicole

(Hemiptera, Aphididae, Eriosomatinae, Fordini) sur Pistacia atlantica en Jordanie. Rev.

Franc. d’entomologie 26(1): 37 42.

9. Bar-Shai N., T. Keasar, R. Samuels, U. Motro, and A. Shmida, 2004. Flight durations in

bumblebees under manipulation of feeding choices. J. Insect Behavior, J. Insect Behavior,

17:155-168.

10. Goubitz, S., R. Nathan, D. Roitemberg, A. Shmida and G. Ne’eman, 2004, Canopy seed

bank structure in relation to: fire, tree size and density. Plant Ecology 173: 191-201.

11. Sapir, Y., A. Shmida, and G. Ne’eman. 2005. Pollination of the Oncocyclus irises (Iris:

Iridaceae) by night-sheltering male bees. Plant Biology 7:417-424.

12. Gottlieb D, Keasar T, Shmida A, Motro U, 2005. Possible foraging benefits of bimodal daily

activity in Proxylocopa olivieri (Lepeletier) (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae). Environmental

Entomology 34:417-424.

13. Sapir, Y., A. Shmida, and G. Ne’eman. 2006. Morning floral heat as reward to the pollinators

of the Oncocyclus irises. Oecologia , 147:53-59.

14. Ne’eman, G., Shavit. O., Shaltiel, L. and Shmida, A. 2006 Foraging by Male and Female

Solitary Bees with Implications for Pollination. Journal of Insect Behavior. vol. 19 (3):383-

399.

15. Al Sheikh B, Salman M, Masalha J, Salem K, Ron M, Shmida A, 2000. Priliminary Check-

list and Ecological Data-Base of plants of the West Bank. Al-Quds University, Abu-Deis,

West Bank, 112 pp.

16. Kaesar, T., I. Fershtman,, Forotan R. and A. Shmida, 2007. Learning performance of forag-

ing bees during manipulation of inter-visit time intervals. Entomologia Generalis, 29:213-

224. [ Center for Rationality. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Discussion Paper #176.

Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.]



17. Arnon R,Keasar T, Pollak G, Cohen D, Shmida A. 2006 Honesty of signaling and pollinator

attraction: the case of flag-like bracts. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 54, 119-128.

18. Keasar T, Goubitz S, Shmida A. 2007.Age-related Sampling of Food Sources by Unsuc-

cessful Foraging Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus). Entomologia Generalis ,

29: 210-211. [ Discussion paper No. 172, Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University,

Jerusalem]

19. Shmida, A. and G. Polak, 2008. the Red Plant Book: Endangered plants of Israel, vol 1, 496

pp. Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Jerusalem(in Hebrew).

20. Keasar T, Shihadeh S, Shmida S, Majali N, Weil D, Reuven N. 2007 An evaluation of mini-

nucleus honeybee hives for pollination of honeydew melons in enclosures. Journal of Api-

cultural research. 46(4): 264-268.

21. Ney-Nifle, M., T. Keasar, and A. Shmida 2001 Location and Color Learning in Bumblebees

in a Two-Phase Conditioning Experiment. J. of Insect Behavior,14,(5) pp. 697-711.

22. Arnon R, Keasar T, Cohen D, Shmida A. 2008 Color contrast and vertical orientation choices

by bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): Innate and learned preferences. MS

23. Sadeh A, Keasar T, Shmida A. 2007 The Carpenter Bee Xylocopa pubescens as an Agricul-

tural Pollinator in Greenhouses. Apidologie 38 ,508517.

24. Keasar T, Sadeh A, Shmida A. 2008 Variability in nectar production and yield, and their

relation to pollinator visits, in a Mediterranean shrub. Arthropod Plant interactions , Vol.2,

pp 117-123. [Discussion Paper # 458, Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University of

Jerusalem.]

25. Levin N, Shmida A, Levanoni O, Tamari H, Kark K. 2007 Predicting mountain plant richness

and rarity from space using satellite-derived vegetation indices. Diversity and Distributin

,Vol.13, pp:692-703.

26. Levin N. Shmida A.,2007 Determining Conservation Hotspots across biogeographic regions

using rainfall belts: Israel as a case study. Israel J. Ecology and Evolution, Vol.53,pp. 33

58.



27. Keasar T., A. Sadeh and A. Shmida 2008 (MS). The signaling function of an extra-floral

display: what selects for signal development? [Oikos, under review)

28. de Jong T., Thuijsman F., Shmida A. , 2008, Optimal sex allocation in plants and the evolu-

tion of Monoecy. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 10, 1082-1109. [Discussion Paper # 487,

Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.]

29. Keasar T., Shmida A. 2008 (MS) An evaluation of Israeli forestry trees and shrubs as poten-

tial forage plants for bees. Israel J. Ecology and Evolution (in press)

30. Keasar T., Shmida A., Zylbertal A., 2008 (MS) Pollination ecology of the red Anemone

coronaria : honeybees may select for early flowering. [Discussion Paper # 491, Center for

Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.]

31. Tamar K., Shmida A., Martinez J., Harari .A, Keith D., Sabatinelli G., Zylbertal A. and

Horovitz A.O., 2009 (MS), Red Anemone guild flowers as focal places for mating and feed-

ing of Glaphyrid beetles. [Discussion Paper # XXX, Center for Rationality, The Hebrew

University of Jerusalem.]

32. Leshem Y, Keasar T and A Shmida 2008-MS Female-biased nectar production in the protan-

drous, hermaphroditic shrub Salvia hierosolymitana: possible reasons and consequences.

[Discussion Paper # XXX, Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.]

33. Melamed Y., U. Plitmann, A. Shmida and O. Golan, 2009. Lasyhyrus clymenum L. in Israel:

A revival of an ancient introduction. . Israel J. Ecology and Evolution (in press)


None

2.2.5 Guy Bloch


Courses taught:

• Animal Behavior (72585)



• Animal Behavior Hands on Experience (72586)

Personal Information: Born: 23 May 1962, Kibbutz Nachshon, Israel Married, 3 children

2.2.5.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1990, Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel: Biology.

M.Sc (Summa Cum Laude) 1992, Tel Aviv University, Zoology, Advisor: Prof. David Wool,

Thesis: ”Quantitative Genetics of Esterase Activity and Resistance to Methidathion in the

Whitefly Bemisia tabaci ”,

Ph.D. 1997, Tel Aviv University, Zoology, Advisor:, Prof. Abraham Hefetz, Thesis: ”Hormonal

and Pheromonal Regulation of Reproduction in the Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris”.

2.2.5.2 Graduate students supervised (2002-date)


Shai Yerushalmi (2004) Thesis: ”Division of labor and chronobiological plasticity in the bum-

blebee, Bombus terrestris”. Magna Cum Laude

Avital Meshi (Kayam) (2006) Thesis: ”Social influence on the development of circadian rhythms

in the honeybee (Apis mellifera)”. Magna Cum Laude

Elad Rubin (2006) Thesis: ”The molecular characteristics of the circadian clock in the honey

bee (Apis mellifera)”. Summa Cum Laude

Ada Eban (2006, continued to a direct Ph.D program) Thesis: ”Plasticity in sleep-like behavior

in the honey bee Apis mellifera”. Summa Cum Laude.

Michal Merling (2008) Thesis: ”The influence of task, size, and age on the phototactic re-

sponse in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (L.)”. Magna Cum Laude.

Ravid Sachar (2008) Thesis: ”The neuroanatomical organization of the honey bee clock”.

Ron Weiss (2008) Thesis: ”The expression of the neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing Factor in

Foragers and Nurses in Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris L.)”.

Magna Cum Laude



Noa Kahana (9/2006 present) Thesis: ”The function of the neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing

Factor in the circadian system of bees”.

Alexander Kutovoy (11/2008 present) The Graduate Program in Biotechnology.


Yair Shemesh, (2008) Thesis: ”The molecular bases of socially-mediated plasticity in circa-

dian rhythms in the honey bee Apis mellifera”.

Ada Eban, (6/2006 - present,) Thesis: ”Social regulation of sleep-like behavior in honey bees”.

Hagai Shpigel, (7/2007 present) Thesis: The insulin/ insulin-like pathway and size-related di-

vision of labor in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris”.


1. Bloch, G., Wheeler, D. E., and Robinson, G. E. (2002) Endocrine influences on the organi-

zation of insect societies. Volume II, Non-mammalian hormone-behavior systems, Chapter

40. pp. 195 - 235 in Hormones, Brain and Behavior (Pfaff, D. Ed.) Academic Press.

2. Bloch, G. (2009) Socially mediated plasticity in the circadian clock of social insects. In

Organization of Insect Societies - From genomes to socio-complexity (Gadau, J. and Fewell,

J. Ed.). Harvard University Press (in press).

3. Bloch, G., Wheeler, D. E., and Robinson, G. E. (2009) Endocrine influences on the organi-

zation of insect societies. Volume III. Non-Mammalian Hormone-Behavior Systems, Non-

Mammalian Invertebrates, chapter 35 in Hormones, Brain and Behavior (Pfaff, D., Arnold,

A., Etgen, A., Fahrbach, S. E., and Rubin, R. Eds.) Academic Press, second edition (in

press).


1. Bloch, G., Sullivan, J. P., and Robinson, G. E. (2002) Juvenile hormone and circadian loco-

motor activity in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Journal of Insect Physiology 48: 1123-1131.



2. Bloch, G., Solomon, S. M., Robinson, G. E., Fahrbach, S. E. (2003) Patterns of PERIOD and

pigment-dispersing hormone immunoreactivity in the brain of the European honey bee (Apis

mellifera): age and time-related plasticity. Journal of Comparative Neurology 464:269-284.

3. Bloch, G., Rubinstein, C. D., and Robinson, G. E. (2004) period expression in the honey

bee brain is developmentally regulated and not affected by light, flight experience, or colony

type. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 34: 879-891.

4. Geva S., Hartfelder K., Bloch G. (2005) Reproductive division of labor, dominance, and

ecdysteroid levels in hemolymph and ovary of the bumble bee Bombus terrestris. Journal of

Insect Physiology 51: 811-823.

5. Bloch, G., Shemesh, Y., and Robinson, G. E. (2006) Seasonal and task-related variation in

free running activity rhythms in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Insectes Sociaux 53: 115118.

6. Yerushalmi, S., Bodenhaimer, S., Bloch, G. (2006) Developmentally-determined attenuation

in circadian rhythms links chronobiology to social organization in bees. The Journal of

Experimental Biology 209: 1044-1051.

7. Rubin, R., Shemesh, Y., Cohen, M., Elgavish, S. Robertson, H. M., Bloch, G. (2006) Molec-

ular and phylogenetic analyses reveal mammalian-like clockwork in the honey bee (Apis

mellifera) and shed new light on the molecular evolution of the circadian clock. Genome

Research 16:1352-1365.

8. The Honey Bee Genome Sequencing Consortium (authors from my group: Rubin, E., Shemesh,

Y., Cohen, M., Bloch, G.) (2006). Insights into social insects from the genome of the honey

bee Apis mellifera. Nature 443: 931-949. (featured several time in Nature top ten - a list of

the ten articles most frequently downloaded from the Nature website).

9. Bloch, G., Meshi A. (2007) Influences of octopamine and juvenile hormone on locomo-

tor behavior and period gene expression in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. The Journal of

Comparative Physiology A 193: 181-199.

10. Shemesh, Y., Cohen, M., Bloch, G. (2007) Natural plasticity in circadian rhythms is medi-

ated by reorganization in the molecular clockwork in honeybees. The FASEB Journal 21:



2304-2311.

11. Meshi A., Bloch, G. (2007) Monitoring circadian rhythms of individual honey bees in a

social environment reveal social influences on post-embryonic ontogeny of activity rhythms.

Journal of Biological Rhythms 22: 343-355.

12. Hagai, T., Cohen, M., Bloch, G. (2007) Genes encoding putative Takeout/ juvenile hormone

binding proteins in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and modulation by age and juvenile hor-

mone of the Takeout-like gene GB19811. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 37:

689-701.

13. Troen, H., Dubrovsky, I., Tamir, R., Bloch, G. (2008) Temporal variation in group aggres-

siveness of honeybee (Apis mellifera) guards. Apidologie 39: 283-291.

14. Eban-Rothschild, A. D., Bloch, G. (2008) Differences in the sleep architecture of forager

and young honeybees (Apis mellifera). Journal of Experimental Biology 211:2408-2416.


• The Hebrew University Intramural Research Fund for Young Scientists; US$24,000; 2002-

2004.

• The Clock System and Social Organization in Bees. Israel Science Foundation (ISF); US$

320,000; 200–2006.

• Start-Up Grant for Young Scientist. Israel Science Foundation (ISF). US$166,000, 2002.

• Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Socially-Mediated Chronobiological Plasticity in the

Honey Bee; Binational Science Foundation (BSF); US$46,000; 2002 2004.

• Task Related Plasticity in Sleep Regulation in Honey Bees; German Israeli Foundation

(G.I.F.) Young Scientists’ Program; e40,000; 2003 - 2004.

• Functional Genomics of Chronobiological Plasticity in the Honey Bee; Binational Science

Foundation (BSF); US$192,000; 2004 2008.

• Social Regulation of Chronobiological Plasticity in the Honey Bee. The National Institute

for Psychobiology; US$20,000; 2004-2006.



• Clock organization and socially mediated behavioral plasticity in honey bees; German Is-

raeli Foundation (G.I.F.); e180,000; 2006-2008.

• Endogenous toxins as modulators of brain function and behavior: The honey bee as a test

case. The Robert Szold Funds, The Wolfson Foundation for Scientific Research; US$40,000;

2006 2007.

• Minerva Short-Term Research Grant (training for my student Noa Kahana); e1300; 2007

2007.

• Social regulation of plasticity in circadian rhythms in honeybees; ISF Ravson fund; 1,084,000

ILS, ( US$253,000;) 2007 2011.

• The insulin/insulin-like pathway, and size-related division of labor in bumblebees; BSF;

US$192,000; 2008 2012.

2.2.6 Ariel D. Chipman


Courses taught:

• From Cell to Organism Lab 72110

• Animal Evolution 90106

Personal Information: Born: 2 September 1968, Boston, USA Married, 2 children


Ph.D. 2001, The Hebrew University: Evolution, Systematics & Ecology, Life Sciences. Advi-

sor: Prof. E. Tchernov, Dr. O. Khaner, Thesis: ”Variation in anuran embryogenesis Evolu-

tionary aspects”.



Jonathan Ben-David (ongoing second year) ”Blastoderm patterning in the milkweed bug On-

copeltus fasciatus”



Michael Birkan (ongoing first year) ”Patterning of the head in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus

fasciatus”


• 7/2007- present Senior lecturer The Department of Evolution Systematics and Ecology and

academic curator of the aquatic invertebrate collection, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

• 2006-2007 Research Associate at National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Be’er

Sheva.

• 2001-2006 Post doctoral research in Prof. Michael Akam’s lab at the University of Cam-

bridge,


1. Chipman, A.D. (2008) Thoughts and speculations on the evolution of the arthropod seg-

mentation mechanism. in ”Evolving Pathways Key Themes in Evolutionary Developmental

Biology” Alessandro Minelli & Giuseppe Fusco eds. Cambridge University Press)


1. Chipman, A. D., and Tchernov E. (2002) - Ancient ontogenies: the larval development of

the Lower Cretaceous anuran Shomronella jordanica (Amphibia: Pipoidea). Evolution &

Development 4:86-95

2. Chipman, A. D. (2002)- Variation, plasticity and modularity in anuran development. Zool-

ogy - analysis of complex systems. 105:97-104

3. Richardson, M. K. and Chipman, A. D. (2003) Developmental constraints in a comparative

framework. Journal of Experimental Zoology (Molecular and Developmental Evolution)

296B:8-22.

4. Chipman, A. D., Arthur, W. and Akam, M. (2004) Early development and segment for-

mation in the centipede Strigamia maritima (Geophilomorpha). Evolution & Development.



6:78-89

5. Chipman A. D., Arthur, W. and Akam, M. (2004) A double segment periodicity underlies

segment generation in centipede development. Current Biology 14:1250-1255

6. Arthur, W., Chipman A. D. (2005) - The centipede Strigamia maritima: what it can tell us

about the development and evolution of segmentation. Bioessays 27:653-660

7. Arthur W., Chipman A. D. (2005) How does arthropod segment number evolve? Some

clues from centipedes. Evolution & Development 7:600-607.

8. Peel, A., Chipman A. D. and Akam, M. (2005) - Arthropod Segmentation: Macroevolution

at the Molecular Level. Nature Reviews Genetics 6:905-916. invited review.

9. Chipman, A. D., Stollewerk A. (2006) - Specification of neural precursor identity in the

geophilomorph centipede Strigamia maritima. Developmental Biology 290: 337-350

10. Stollewerk A., Chipman A. D. (2006) Neurogenesis in myriapods and chelicerates and its

importance for understanding arthropod relationships. Integrative and Comparative Biology

46:195-206

11. Brena, C., Chipman, A. D., Minelli, A. and Akam M. (2006) The Expression of Trunk Hox

genes in the Centipede Strigamia maritima: Sense and Antisense Transcripts. Evolution &

Development 8:252-265

12. Le Goff-Vitry, M. C., Chipman, A. D. and Comtet, T. (2007) In situ hybridization on whole

larvae: a novel method for monitoring bivalve larvae. Marine Ecology Progress Series

343:161-172

13. Chipman, A.D., Akam, M. (2008) The segmentation cascade in the centipede Strigamia

maritima: Involvement of the Notch pathway and pair-rule gene homologues. Developmen-

tal Biology 319:160-169

14. Vedel, V., Chipman, A.D., Akam, M., Arthur, W. (2008) Temperature-dependent plasticity

of segment number in an arthropod species: the centipede Strigamia maritima. Evolution &

Development !0:487-492




• ”Early blastoderm patterning and gap gene interaction in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fas-

ciatus”: Israel Science Foundation: 470,000 NIS: 2008-2011

• ”Equipment grant for new researchers”: Israel Science Foundation: $50,000: 2009

2.2.7 Uzi Motro

Academic Rank: Professor

Courses taught:

• Introduction to Ecology and Population Biology

• Ecology and Population Biology Advanced

• Introduction to Probability and Statistics (Natural Sciences) I

• Introduction to Probability and Statistics (Natural Sciences) II

• Game Theory and Evolution

Personal Information: Born: 22 May 1944, Tel Aviv, Israel Married, 3 children

2.2.7.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1971, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel: Mathematics and Statistics.

M.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1973, Tel Aviv University: Statistics (Operations Research)

Ph.D. 1978, Tel Aviv University: Statistics (Population Genetics). Advisor: Prof. I. Eshel,

Thesis: ”Optimal rates of dispersal”.



1Yoav Goell (2002) ”Social and feeding behavior of the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in a

feeding station at Sde Boker in the Negev”.

2Avigail Nevo (2002) ”Genetic characterization of House Mouse (Mus musculus domesticus)

populations in Israel”.



3,∗Amalya Tores (2002) ”Is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) an opportunistic predator?”

1Myriam Freund (2003) ”Breeding success and its correlation with nesting niche character-

istics: A study of a Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) colony in Gamla”.

4,∗Shani Sheinin (2003) ”A field study of interference competition between the Red Fox (Vulpes

vulpes) and the Common Jackal (Canis aureus)”.

1Sigal Yaniv (2003) ”Division of parental care in the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)”.

5Tzahala Brosh (2004) ”Cultivated, semi-cultivated and natural fields as foraging areas of the

Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in northern Israel”.

1Hila Yoel (2004) ”The effect of age, sex and origin on the survival and dynamics of the Griffon

Vulture (Gyps fulvus)”.

3,∗Nili Anglister (2005) ”The impact of dune stabilization and Acacia saligna invasion on ro-

dents populations in Ashdod-Nitzanim dunes, Israel”.

5Orli Bobek (2005) ”The role of nest-site micro-climatic conditions and parents experience on

nesting success in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)”.

1Zohar Leader (2005) ”The diet of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in the Negev desert, and

a comparison with the diet of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba)”.

6Noam Ra’anan (2005) ”The Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana) in ”Eretz ha-Makhteshim”: Reac-

tions to human disturbance”.

Miriam Bensimhoun (2006) ”Parent-offspring conflict in the harvester ant between workers

and young queens, regarding the timing of nuptial flight”.

Nurit Guthrie (2007) ”Mobbing: Persuading the predator to leave, or gaining prestige? Math-

ematical models for these two alternatives”.

5Royi Zidon (2007) ”The reintroduction of the Persian fallow deer to the Soreq Valley: the

mutual influence between the reintroduced animal and the surrounding habitat”.

7Sameh Darawshi (Current student) ”Aggregation, movement dynamics and feeding habits

of the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in relation to human agricultural activities in the

Judean Hills”.



8Dalia Hermon (Current student) ”A DNA database of goats for forensic identification”.

1Joint supervision with O. Bahat

2Joint supervision with U. Ritte

3Joint supervision with Y. Tom-Tov

4Joint supervision with Y. Tom-Tov and E. Geffen

5Joint supervision with D. Saltz

6Joint supervision with D. Saltz and Y. Shkedy

7Joint supervision with Y. Leshem

8Joint supervision with G. Kahila Bar-Gal

∗A student of Tel Aviv University


1,∗Lilach Hadany (2002) ”On the evolution of complex traits: Mechanisms facilitating adap-

tive peak shifts”.

2,#Guy Pe’er (2004) ”Spatial and behavioral determinants of butterfly movement patterns in

topographically complex landscapes”.

Osnat Yaniv (2005) ”A game theoretical approach to time dependent animal conflicts”.

3Miriam Belmaker (2006) ”Mammalian community structure through time: ’Ubediya (a Lower

Pleistocene site) as a case study”.

2Adiv Gal (2007) ”Decision making under different environmental conditions during nesting

in the Lesser Kestrel”.

4Tal Seifan (2008) ”Long-term influences of decision-making: Plant-pollinator interactions

and their outcomes”.

5,∗Michal Arbily (Current student) ”Theoretical models in the evolution of learning behavior”.

5,∗Edith Katsnelson (Current student) ”The evolutionary ecology of social and self learning

in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)”.



1Joint supervision with I. Eshel

2Joint supervision with D. Saltz

3Joint supervision with E. Tchernov and O. Bar-Yosef

4Joint supervision with Y. Kareev

5Joint supervision with A. Lotem

∗A student of Tel Aviv University

#A student of Ben Gurion University


• 12/1995 06/1998: Head of the Evolution, Systematics and Ecology Teaching Program

• 10/1999 09/2002: Head of the Life Sciences Teaching Program

• 08/2004 09/2007: Head of the Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology


1. Hiss, J., Freund, M., Motro, U., and Kahana, T. (2003). The forensic pathology of terrorism

in Israel two years of suicide bombings. In: Terror and Medicine - Medical Aspects of

Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Terrorism (J. Shemer and Y. Shoenfeld, eds.), pp. 446-

455. Lengerich, Germany: Pabst Science Publishers.


1. Motro, U., Oz, C., Adelman, R., Davidson, A., Gast, A., Hermon, D., Shpitzen, M., Za-

mir, A., and Freund, M. (2002). Allele frequencies of nine STR loci of Jewish and Arab

populations in Israel. International Journal of Legal Medicine 116:184-186.

2. Zamir, A., Shpitzen, M., Oz, C., Motro, U., Meiner, V., and Gafny, R. (2002). Presentation

of a three-banded allele pattern analysis and interpretation. Journal of Forensic Sciences

47:1-3.



3. Vardi, A., Schatz, D., Beeri, K., Motro, U., Sukenik, A., Levine, A., and Kaplan, A. (2002).

Dinoflagellate-cyanobacterium cross-talk may determine the dynamics of the phytoplankton

assemblage. Current Biology 12:1767-1772.

4. Miriami, E., Motro, U., Sperling, R., and Sperling, J. (2002). Conservation of an open

reading frame as an element affecting 5’ splice site selection. Journal of Structural Biology

140:116-122.

5. Hiss, J., Freund, M., Motro, U., and Kahana, T. (2002). The medico-legal investigation of

the El Aqsah Intifada. Israel Medical Association Journal 4:549-553.

6. Oz, C., Zamir, A., Gafny, R., and Motro, U. (2003). ”The Story of Abraham, Isaac and

Jacob” or ”Am I my brother’s keeper?” Journal of Forensic Sciences 48:1-3.

7. Miriami, E., Sperling, R., Sperling, J., and Motro, U. (2004). Regulation of splicing: The

importance of being translatable. RNA 10:1-4.

8. Pe’er, G., Saltz, D., Thulke, H.-H., and Motro, U. (2004). Response to topography in a hill-

topping butterfly and implications for modelling non-random dispersal. Animal Behaviour

68:625-639.

9. Bar-Shai, N., Samuels, R., Keasar, T., Motro, U., and Shmida, A. (2004). Flight durations in

bumblebees under manipulation of feeding choices. Journal of Insect Behavior 17:145-154.

10. Hadany, L., Eshel, I., and Motro, U. (2004). No place like home: competition, dispersal,

and complex adaptation. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 17:1328-1336.

11. Yaniv, O., and Motro, U. (2004). The parental investment conflict in continuous time: St.

Peter’s fish as an example. Journal of Theoretical Biology 228:377-388.

12. Yaniv, O., and Motro, U. (2005). Time-dependent animal conflicts: 1. The symmetric case.

Journal of Theoretical Biology 232:261-275.

13. Yaniv, O., and Motro, U. (2005). Time-dependent animal conflicts: 2. The asymmetric case.

Journal of Theoretical Biology 232:277-284.

14. Gottlieb, D., Keasar, T., Shmida, A., and Motro, U. (2005). The early bee gets the nec-

tar: possible foraging benefits of bimodal daily activity in Proxylocopa olivieri (Lepeletier)



(Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae). Environmental Entomology 34:417-424.

15. Ashkenazi, S., Motro, U., Goren-Inbar, N., Biton, R., and Rabinovich, R. (2005). New mor-

phometric parameters for assessment of body size in the fossil freshwater crab assemblage

from the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, Israel. Journal of Archaeological Science

32:675-689.

16. Tores, M., Motro, Y., Motro, U., and Yom-Tov, Y. (2005). The Barn Owl a selective oppor-

tunist predator. Israel Journal of Zoology 51:349-360.

17. Scheinin, S., Yom-Tov, Y., Motro, U., and Geffen, E. (2006). Behavioral responses of red

foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to increased stimuli of the golden jackal (Canis aureus): a field exper-

iment. Animal Behaviour 71:577-584.

18. Ben-Shlomo, R., Motro, U., Paz, G., and Rinkevich, B. (2008). Pattern of settlement and

natural chimerism in the colonial urochordate Botryllus schlosseri. Genetica 132:51-58.

19. Katsnelson, E., Motro, U., Feldman, M. W., and Lotem, A. (2008). Early experience affects

producer-scrounger foraging tendencies in the house sparrow. Animal Behaviour 75:1465-

1472.

20. Leader, Z., Yom-Tov, Y., and Motro, U. (2008). Diet of the Long-eared Owl in the northern

and central Negev desert, Israel. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120:641-645.

21. Zidon, R., Saltz, D., Shore, L. S., and Motro, U. Behavioral changes, stress, and survival

following reintroduction of Persian fallow deer from two breeding facilities. Conservation

Biology (in press).


• ”Study of raptor populations in Israel”: The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel:

e9,000: 2002

• ”The evolutionary ecology of social and self learning in sparrows”: The United States Israel

Binational Science Foundation: $156,000: 2006-2009

• ”The ecology of the Short-toed Eagle in the KKL areas of the Judean Hills”: HaKeren



HaKayemet LeIsrael: $22,000: 2007-2008

2.2.8 Joseph Heller


Courses taught:

• The Molluscan Fauna of Israel, B.Sc.

• From Cell to Organism, B.Sc (Lectures).

• From Cell to Organism, B.Sc (Laboratory)

• Research Projects (Mekhqar Zoota), B.Sc.

• Systematics, M.Sc.

Personal Information: April 10, 1941 in Australia Married, 2 children

2.2.8.1 Education:

BSc 1965. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Zoology and Microbiology.

MSc 1968. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Zoology.

PhD 1972. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Zoology. Supervisor: Prof. G. Haas.

Post-doc 1972-1974, University of Liverpool. Zoology. Supervisor: Prof. Arthur Cane.



Inbar Baruch (2002) (with Prof. Michal Artzi, University of Haifa) Mollusc fauna from the

Late Bronze and Iron Age strata at Tell Abu Hawam.

Ofer Steinitz (2003) (with Prof. Ronen Kadmon). Predicting patterns of species similarity

using environmental and geographical distances.

Ahmed Abu Ras (2005 - ) Systematics, variation, distribution and phylogeographic implica-

tions of the freshwater fish Garra (Cyprinidae).



Itai Lachmi (2005-) (with Dr Uri Shalom, ministry of Environment) Distribution in time and

space of the invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus in the western Galilee.

Zohar Zangi Nahar i (2006-)


Esther Lachman (2007) (with Prof. Zeev Arad, Technion Haifa; and I. Yitzhaki, University of

Haifa). Factors affecting population dynamics of land snails following fire.

Frida Ben-Ami (2005) Parthenogenesis versus sexual reproduction in the snail Melanoides tu-

berculata.


• 1975 1979 Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science.

• 1979 - 1986 Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science.

• 1986 present Associate Professor, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, Fac-

ulty of Science

• (1975 - present) Academic Curator of the National Mollusc Collection, Jerusalem

• 1981 1982 Visiting Scientist, Department of Zoology, University of Bristol.

• 1988 1989 Visiting Scientist, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town.

• 2005 Visiting Scientist, State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York.


1. MAZAN-MAMCZARZ, K. , HELLER, J. , and M. SZAROWSKA (2002). Differences in

the radula of the genus Melanopsis in the Jordan Valley, Israel. Malakologische Abhand-

lunged Staatliches Museum fr Tierkunde Dresden 20: 219- 234.

2. FALNIOWSKI, A. , HELLER, J. , MAZAN-MAMCZARZ, K. and M. SZAROWSKA

(2002). Genetic structure of populations of the closely related species of Melanopsis (Gas-

tropoda: Cerithiaca) in Israel. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research

40: 92-104.



3. HELLER, J. and N. SIVAN (2002). Melanopsis from the Pleistocene site of ’Ubeidiya,

Jordan Valley: direct evidence of early hybridization (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea). Biological

Journal of the Linnean Society 75: 39-57.

4. HODGSON, A.N. , F. BEN-AMI and J. HELLER (2002). Ultrastructure of oogenesis in

an ovoviviparous and an oviparous freshwater snail (Caenogastropoda). Invertebrate Repro-

duction and Development 41: 1-11.

5. FALNIOWSKI, A. , J. HELLER , M. SZAROWSKA and K. MAZAN MAMCZARZ (2002).

Allozymic taxonomy within the genus Melanopsis (Gastropoda: Cerithiaca) in Israel: a case

in which slight differences are congruent. Malacologia 44: 307-324.

6. HELLER, J. , N. SIVAN and F. BEN-AMI (2002). Systematics of Melanopsis from the

Coastal Plain of Israel (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea). Journal of Conchology 37: 589-606.

7. HELLER, J. and N. SIVAN (2002). Melanopsis from the Pliocene site of ’Erq el-Ahmar,

Jordan Valley (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea). Journal of Conchology 37: 607-626. 0.607;

72/109 Zoology; 0.

8. GROSSOWICZ, M. , N. SIVAN and J. HELLER (2003). Melanopsis from the Pleistocene

of the Hula Valley, (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea). Israel Journal of Earth Science 52: 221-234.

9. HELLER, J. and R. KADMON (2004). The use of GIS mapping techniques in assassing

biodiversity. Journal of Conchology, Special Publication 3: 123-132. 1.

10. BEN-AMI, F. and J. HELLER (2005). Spatial and temporal patterns of parthenogenesis and

parasitism in the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata. Journal of Evolutionary Biology

18: 136-146. 3.33; 11/33 Evolutionary biology; 4.

11. HELLER, J. , P. MORDAN , F. BEN-AMI and N. SIVAN (2005). Conchometrics, systemat-

ics and distribution of Melanopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Levant. Zoological Journal

of the Linnean Society 144: 229-260. 1.98; 12/114 Zoology; 1.

12. LEFCORT, H. , F. BEN-AMI and J. HELLER (2005). Terrestial snails use predator- diet to

assess danger. Journal of Ethology 24: 97-102.

13. STEINITZ, O. , J. HELLER , A. TSOAR , D. ROTEM and R. KADMON (2005). Predicting



regional patterns of similarity in species composition for conservation planning. Conserva-

tion Biology 19: 1978-1988.

14. RIBAK, G. , J. HELLER and A. GENIN (2005). Mucus-net feeding on organic particles by

the vermetid gastropod Dendropoma maximum in and below the surf zone. Marine Ecology

Progress Series 293: 77-87.

15. HELLER, J. and S. YITZHAKI (2006). Assigning specimens to a given classification:

When the distribution is not normal. Systematics and Biodiversity 4: 161-172.

16. SIVAN, N. , J. HELLER and D. VAN DAMME (2006). Fossil Viviparidae (Mollusca: Gas-

tropoda) of the Levant. Journal of Conchology 39: 207-220.

17. STEINITZ, O. , J. HELLER , A. TSOAR , D. ROTEM and R. KADMON (2006). Environ-

ment, dispersal and patterns of species similarity. Journal of Biogeography 33: 1044-1054.

18. BEN-AMI, F. and J. HELLER (2007). Temporal patterns of geographic parthenogenesis in

a freshwater snail. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 91: 711

19. 718.

20. BANDEL, K. , N. SIVAN and J. HELLER (2007). Melanopsis from Al

21. Qarn, Jordan Valley (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea). Palaeontologische Zeitschrift 81: 304-315.

22. HELLER, J. (2007). A historic biogeography of the aquatic fauna of the Levant. Biological


23. SIVAN, N. , F. BEN-AMI and J. HELLER (2007). Taxonomy of Pliocene and Quaternary

Thiaridae (Gastropoda) of Israel. Journal of Conchology 39: 1-16.

24. BEN-AMI, F. and J. HELLER (2008). Sex versus parasitism versus density. Biological



• The Israel Science Foundation (ISF), , NIS 600,000 for research, $ 4000 for equipment

(2002-2006) Title: ”Systematic and Historical Evolution of the Freshwater Molluscs in the

Jordan Rift Valley Area”.



• The Israel Science Foundation (ISF), NIS 172,000 per year for 3 years. (2007 2009) Title:

”Adaptation of land snails to desert conditions: from whole animal to molecular mecha-

nisms”.

2.2.9 Dan Tchernov

Academic Rank: Lecturer

Courses taught:

• From cell to organism II (course #72109)

• Biochemistry and physiology of photosynthesis (course #72600)

• Marine Photosynthesis (course #76724)

• Coral Biology (course #84863)

Personal Information: Born: 22 September 1967, Jerusalem, Israel Married, 2 children.

2.2.9.1 Education:

B.Sc. Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, 1995

M.Sc. Oceanography, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, 1998

Ph.D. Oceanography and Marine Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (supervisor:

Prof. Aaron Kaplan), May, 2003

Post-doctorate Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rugers University, New Brunswick,

NJ, USA. The Department of Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology (supervisor:

Prof. Paul G. Falkowski) 2002-2004



Orit Nir* (2005-2007) Magna cum laude- ”The distribution of the coral Seriatopora histrix in

the gulf of Eilat”



Amicam Bar-Gil (2005-) -”The effect of global worming and ocean acidification on coral phys-

iology”.

Adi Ramon (2005-2007). - ”The molecular pathway of coral Apoptosis ? ”

Jay Fish (2007-) - ”Paleo proxies for detection of bleaching events”.

Rami Tzadok* (2007-) - ”Coral acidification effect on in the Mediterranean coral Oculina spp”.

Adi Levi* (2007-) - ”The lipid composition of scleractinian coral symbiotic algae and its role

in thermal tolerance”.

Eldad Hoch* (2007-) - ”Genetic variability in the endolithic algae Ostreobium”.

Noah Ben-Aderet (2007-) -”cleractinian corals resilience to decreased ocean pH”.

Stephanie Cohen (2007-) ”Calcification under ocean acidification conditions”.

Eldad Saragosti (2007-) Co-supervised with Dr. Y. Shaked Thesis subject: radical oxygen

species accumulation in corals.

Oded Liran (2008- )- ”Caspase role in hermatypic corals apoptosis mechanism”.

Yaniv Blumenfeld* (2008-)-”Coral and symbiont mass energy fluxes: does the coral reduce

the symbiotic algae photosystem?”


Shai Einbinder (2005-). ”The deep reef community and its physiological adaptations”.

Hagit Kivit (2007-). ”The molecular mechanism of coral apoptosis”.

Baraka Kuguru* (2005-).”The light adaptation and acclimation of Coralimorpharians in the

gulf of Eilat”.


• 2004-present: Lecturer. Faculty of Science, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sci-

ences, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology (ESE), The Hebrew University of

Jerusalem.

• 2004-present: Administrative Director The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences-

Eilat




1. Falkowski P. G and Tchernov, D. (2004) Human footprints in the ecological landscape. In:

H.J. Schellnhuber, P. J. Crutzen, W. C. Clark, M. Claussen and H. Held (Eds.) Earth System

Analysis for Sustainability, The MIT Press, pp. 211-226.


1. Tchernov, D.,S Hassidim, M.,T Luz, B.,C Sukenik, A.,C Reinhold, L.,C Kaplan, A.PI (1997)

Sustained net CO2 evolution during photosynthesis by marine microorganisms. Current

Biology 7: 723-728.

2. Sukenik, A., Tchernov, D.,S Huerta, E.,C Lubian, L.M.,S Kaplan, A.,C Livne, A.T (1997)

Uptake, efflux and photosynthetic utilization of inorganic carbon by the marine eustigmato-

phyte Nannochloropsis sp. Journal of Phycology. 33: 969-974.

3. Kaplan, A.,PI Ronen-Tarazi, M.,S Zer, H.,T Schwarz, R.,C Tchernov, D.,S Bonfil, D.J.,S

Schatz, D.,S Vardi, A.,S Hassidim, M.,T Reinhold, L.C (1998) The inorganic carbon-concen-

trating mechanism in cyanobacteria: induction and ecological significance. Canadian Jour-

nal. of Botany 76: 917-924.

4. Tchernov, D.,S Hassidim, M.,T Vardi, A.,S Luz, B.,C Sukenik, A.,C Reinhold, L.,C Ka-

plan, A. PI (1998) Photosynthesizing marine microorganisms can constitute a source of CO2

rather than a sink. Canadian Journal. of Botany 76: 949-953.

5. Kaplan, A.,PI Helman, Y.,S Tchernov, D.,S and Reinhold, L.C (2001) Acclimation of pho-

tosynthetic microorganisms to changing ambient CO2 concentration. Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences USA 98: 4817-4818.

6. Tchernov, D.,S Helman, Y.,S Keren, N.,S Luz, B.,C Ohad, I.,C Reinhold, L.,C Ogawa, T.

C and Kaplan, A. PI (2001) Passive entry of CO2 and its energy-dependent intracellular

conversion to HCO3- in cyanobacteria are driven by a photosystem I- generated H+. Journal

of Biological Chemistry 276: 23450-23455.

7. Sukenik A., PI Eshkol R, S Livne A,S Hadas O, C Rom M, C Tchernov D,S Vardi A,S



Kaplan A.C (2002) Inhibition of growth and photosynthesis of the dinoflagellate Peridinium

gatunense by Microcystis sp. cyanobacteria: A novel allelopathic mechanism. Limnology

and Oceanography; 47: 1656-1663.

8. Helman Y.,S Tchernov D.,S Reinhold L.,C Shibata M., C Ogawa T.,C Schwarz R.,C Ohad I,

C Kaplan A. PI (2003) Genes encoding a-type flavoproteins are essential for photoreduction

of O-2 in cyanobacteria Current Biology 13 (3): 230-235 .

9. Tchernov D.,S Silverman J.,S Luz B., C Reinhold L.,C Kaplan A. PI (2003) Massive light-

dependent cycling of inorganic carbon between oxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms

and their surroundings. Photosynthesis Research;77(2-3):95-103

10. Kaplan A., PI Lieman-Hurwitz J.,T Tchernov D. S (2004) Resolving the biological role of

the Rhesus (Rh) proteins of red blood cells with the aid of a green alga. Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences USA; 101(20):7497-8.

11. Tchernov D.,PI Gorbunov MY.,C de Vargas C.,C Narayan Yadav S.,T Milligan AJ.,C Hag-

gblom M.,C Falkowski PG.PI (2004) Membrane lipids of symbiotic algae are diagnostic of

sensitivity to thermal bleaching in corals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

USA; 101(37):13531-5.

12. Shaked Y.,PI Lazar B.,C Marco S.,C Stein M.,C Tchernov D.,C Agnon A.C (2005)Evolution

of fringing reefs: space and time constraints from the Gulf of Aqaba. Coral Reefs; 24(1):

165-172

13. Fine M.,PI and Tchernov D.PI (2007) Scleractinian coral species survive and recover from

decalcification. Science, 315 (5820): 1811-1811. Fine, M PI. and Tchernov D.PI ( 2007)

Ocean acidification and scleractinian corals - Response. Science, 2007. 317(5841): p. 1032-

1033.

14. Tchernov D., PI and Lipschultz F PI. (2008) Carbon isotopic composition of Trichodesmium

spp. colonies off Bermuda: effects of colony mass and season. J. Plankton Research, 30 21-

31.

15. Tchernov D., PI Livne A., T Kaplan A.,C and Sukenik A.C (2008)The kinetic properties of



ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase may explain the high apparent photosyn-

thetic affinity of Nannochloropsis sp. to ambient inorganic carbon. Israel Journal of Plant

Sciences Accepted

16. Kuguru B., S Chadwick N E,. C Achituv Y,. C Zendbank K,. T and Tchernov D. PI

(2008) Mechanisms of microhabitat segregation among corallimorpharians: evidence from

photosynthetic responses and zooxanthella clades. Marine Ecology Progress Series 369:

115129

17. Einbinder S., S Mass T., S Brokovich E., S Dubinsky Z., PI Yonatan E., PI Tchernov D., PI

Changes in morphology and diet of the coral Stylophora pistillata along the depth gradient.

Accepted


• The Israeli Science Foundation, 2005-2009, Total sum: $220,000 Title: The Cellular Mech-

anism of Coral Bleaching.

• BMBF: Federal Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2010, Total sum: e143,000.

Title: ”Paleo Reconstruction of Past Bleaching Events”.

• European Commission 7th program FP7-Infrastructures-2008-1.1.1, 2009-2013 Total sum:

e215,155 (still under negotiation) Title: ”Association of European Marine Biological Lab-

oratories”

2.2.10 Amatzia Genin

Academic Rank: Full professor

Courses taught:

• Introduction to ecology and population biology.

• Quantitative methods in marine ecology.

• Plankton

Personal Information: Born: 26 October 1951, Kfar Saba, Israel Married, 2 children



2.2.10.1 Education:


M.Sc. (Magna Cum Laude) 1981, The Hebrew University: Environmental Biology

Ph.D. Biological Oceanography 1987. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Cal-

ifornia, San Diego, USA. Advisor: Prof. Paul K. Dayton Thesis: ”Effects of seamount topog-

raphy and currents on biological processes”.



Shiri Ekstein (2003) ”Density-dependent effects in the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla”.

Rafi Kent (2003) ”Effect of group size on intra-specific competition in the planktivorous coral-

dwelling fish Dascyllus marginatus”.

Ruti Motro (2004) ”Near-bottom depletion of zooplankton over coral reefs: predation present

or ghost of predation past?”

Rotem Goldshmid (2004) ”Aeration of corals by sleep-swimming fish the dark side of fish-

coral symbiosis”.

Kineret Hermelin-Piltz (2005) Co-supervised with Prof. A Kaplan (HUJI). ”Competition be-

tween corals and macro algae”.

Roi Vaknin (2006-) ”Ecology and biomechanics of planktivorous fish”.

Margarita Zarubin (2007) MSc student from University of Oldenburg, Germany. ”The adap-

tive benefits of bioluminescence in bacteria- the zooplankton-fish connection”.

Igal Bernstein (2007-) ”Nocturnal ventilation of corals by fish do the fish ever sleep?”

Rut Khait (2007-) ”Diel feeding pattern in herbivorous coral-reef fishes”.

Shahar Yair (2007- ) ”Ecology and feeding biology of coral-reef crinoids”.


Gitai Yahel (2003) ”Feeding on ultraplankton and dissolved organic carbon in coral reefs: from

individual-based rates to community processes”.



Ruthy Yahel (2004) ”The distribution of zooplankton and large suspended particulate matter

over coral reefs: spatio-temporal variations and controlling mechanisms”.

Svetlana Rickel (2005) ”Foraging in the flow: adaptations and limitations of planktivory in

coral-reef fishes”.

Roi Holzman (2006) ”Nocturnal interactions between fishes and zooplankton over coral reefs”.

Tali Levanon-Mass (2006-) ”Eects of flow on corals”

Margarita Zarubin (2008-) ”Pedation on zooplankton in benthic and open water ecosystems”


• 1987-1993: Lecturer in Marine Ecology. Faculty of Science, The Alexander Silberman

Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology (ESE), The

Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Interuniversity Institution for Marine Sciences,

Eilat, Israel.

• 1993-2003: Senior Lecturer in Marine Ecology. Faculty of Science, The Alexander Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology (ESE),

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Interuniversity Institution for Marine Sciences,

Eilat, Israel.

• 2003-2006: Associate Professor in Marine Ecology. Faculty of Science, The Alexander

Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology

(ESE), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Interuniversity Institution for Marine

Sciences, Eilat, Israel.

• 2006-present: Full Professor in Marine Ecology. Faculty of Science, The Alexander Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology (ESE),

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Interuniversity Institution for Marine Sciences,

Eilat, Israel

• 2000-2001 Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineer-

ing, Stanford University, California, USA



• 2001-2007, Head, the curricular section of Evolution, Systematics & Ecology (ESE).

• 2001-present: Consulting Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Evironmental Engi-

neering, School of Engineering, Stanford University, California, USA.


1. Yahel, R., G. Yahel, A. Genin. 2002. Daily cycles of suspended sand in coral reefs: a

biological control. Limnology & Oceanography 47:1071-1083.

2. Genin, A., G. Yahel, M.A. Reidenbach, S. G. Monismith and J. R. Koseff. 2002. Intense

benthic grazing on phytoplankton in coral reefs revealed using the Control Volume approach.

Oceanography 15:90-96.

3. Yahel. G. , J. H. Sharp, D. Marie, C. HŁse, and A. Genin. 2003. In situ feeding and element

removal in the symbiont-bearing sponge Theonella swinhoei: Bulk DOC is the major source

for carbon. Limnology & Oceanography 48:141-149.

4. Farstey, V., B. Lazar, A. Genin. 2002. Homogeneous vertical distribution of zooplankton in

a deep mixed layer. Marine Ecology Progress Series 238: 91-100.

5. Holzman, R. and A. Genin. 2003. Zooplanktivory by a nocturnal coral-reef fish: Effects of

light, flow, and prey density. Limnology & Oceanography 48:1367-1375.

6. Genin, A. 2004. Bio-physical coupling in the formation of zooplankton and fish aggregations

over abrupt topographies. Journal of Marine Systems 50:3-20.

7. Goldshmid, R., R. Holzman, D. WeihsC, and A. Genin. 2004. Aeration of corals by sleep-

swimming fish. Limnology & Oceanography 49:18321839.

8. Monismith, S.G. and A. Genin. 2004. Tides and sea level in the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat).

Journal of Geophysical Research 109:C04015 (6 pp.)

9. Yahel, G., D. Marie, and A. Genin. 2005. InEx a direct in situ method to measure filtration

rates, nutrition, and metabolism of active suspension feeders. Limnology & Oceanography:

Methods 3:4658.

10. Yahel, R., G. Yahel, and A. Genin. 2005. Near-bottom depletion of zooplankton over coral



reefs: I. Diurnal dynamics and size distribution. Coral Reefs 24: 75-85.

11. Holzman, R. , M. A. Reidenbach, S. G. Monismith, J. R. Koseff, and A. Genin. 2005.

Near- bottom depletion of zooplankton over a coral reef: II. Relationships with zooplankton

swimming ability. Coral Reefs 24: 87-94.

12. Motro, R., I. Ayalon and A. Genin. 2005. Near-bottom depletion of zooplankton over coral

reefs: III. Vertical gradient of predation pressure. Coral Reefs 24: 95-98.

13. Yahel, R., G. Yahel, T. Berman, J. S. Jaffe and A. Genin. 2005. Diel pattern with abrupt

crepuscular changes of zooplankton over a coral reef. Limnology & Oceanography 50:930-

944.

14. Ribak, G., J. Heller and A. Genin. 2005. Mucus-net feeding on organic particles by the

vermetid gastropod Dendropoma maximum in and below the surf zone. Marine Ecology

Progress Series 293:77-87.

15. Genin, A., J. S. Jaffe, R. Reef, C. Richter, and P. J. S. Franks. 2005. Swimming against the

flow: a mechanism of zooplankton aggregation. Science 308:860-862.

16. Rickel, S. and A. Genin. 2005. Twilight transitions in coral reef fish: the input of light-

induced changes in foraging behavior. Animal Behaviour 70:133-144.

17. Holzman, R. and A. Genin. 2005. Mechanisms of selectivity in nocturnal fish: a minor role

for active prey choice. Oecologia 146:329-336.

18. Yahel, G., T. Zalogin, R. YahelS and A. Genin. 2006. Phytoplankton grazing by epi- and in-

fauna inhabiting exposed rocks in coral reefs. Coral Reefs 25:153-163.

19. Reidenbach, M.A., J.R. Koseff, S.G. Monismith, J.V. Steinbuck and A. Genin. 2006. The

effects of waves and morphology on mass transfer within branched reef corals. Limnology

& Oceanography 51: 1134-1141.

20. Reidenbach, M.A., S.G. Monismith, J.R. Koseff, G. Yahel, and A. Genin. 2006. Boundary

layer turbulence and flow structure over a fringing coral reef. Limnology & Oceanography

51: 1956-1968.

21. Kent R, R. Holzman and A. Genin. 2006. Preliminary evidence on group-size dependent



feeding success in the damselfish Dasyllus marginatus. Marine Ecology Progress Series

323:299-303.

22. Genin, A. and J. F. Dower. 2007. Seamount Plankton Dynamics. p. 85-100 In: T. Pitcher,

P. J. B. Hart, T. Morato, R. Santos, and M. Clark (eds.) Seamounts: ecology, fisheries &

conservation. Blackwell.

23. Holzman, R., M. Ohevia, R. Vaknin, and A. Genin. 2007. Abundance and distribution of

nocturnal fishes over a coral reef during the night. Marine Ecology Progress Series 342:

205- 215.

24. Mass, T., and A. Genin. 2008. Environmental versus intrinsic determination of colony

symmetry in the coral Pocillopora verrucosa. Marine Ecology Progress Series 369:131-137.

25. Genin, A., S. G. Monismith, M. A. Reidenbach, G. Yahel, and J. R. Koseff. 2009. Intense

benthic grazing of phytoplankton in a coral reef. Limnology & Oceanography (in press)


• ”Feeding on ultra-plankton and dissolved organic carbon in coral reefs: from individual-

based rates to community processes”, US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, $106,605,

1999- 2002.

• ”Title: Foraging in planktivorous fish: bio-mechanical limitations and adaptations for feed-

ing in moving fluids”, Israel Science Foundation, $273,245, 1999-2003.

• ”Nocturnal interactions between fish and zooplankton in coral reefs”, Israel Science Foun-

dation, NIS 1,215,999, 2003-2007.

• ”Grazing, hydrodynamics and trophic state of plankton communities”, US-Israel Binational

Science Foundation, $94,000, 2005-2007.

• ”Algal grazing by fishes and sea urchins in the coral reef”, Israel Nature and Parks Authority,

NIS 80,000, 2006 2007.

• ”Real time surface current measurements to protect the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat) against man-

induced or accidental oil and other toxic spills”, NATO, EU 89,000, 2007-2010.



• ”Integrative system for ocean water-column research” (institutional basic equipment), Israel

science Foundation, $80,000 + $80,000 matching, 2007.

• ”The National Monitoring Program in the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)” Israel Ministry of the

Environment, NIS 1,020,000 /year, long term, started in 2002.

2.2.11 Ronen Kadmon


Courses taught:

• Ecology Advanced

• Research approaches in Ecology

Personal Information: Born: 10 January 1956, Israel Married, 3 children

2.2.11.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1982, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Geology.

Ph.D. 1989, The Hebrew University: Ecology, Life Sciences. Advisor: Prof. A. Shmida,

Thesis: ”Effect of spatio-temporal heterogeneity on population dynamics of a desert annual”.



Ana Trakhtenbrot (2002) ”Cluster analysis based on environmental factors as a tool for de-

signing nature reserve networks”

Ofer Steinitz (2003) ”Predicting patterns of species similarity using environmental and geo-

graphical distances”

Asaf Tsoar (2003) ”Comparison of prediction accuracy between climatic envelope models”

Dotan Rotem (2004) ”Comparing the performance of presence-absence versus presence- only

models in predicting patterns of bird distribution in Israel”

Omri Allouche (2007) - ”Predictive models of species distribution”



Ronen Ron (2008) - ”Effects of productivity, disturbance, and habitat heterogeneity on the

diversity of ecological communities”


Dan Malkinson (2002) ”Ecological processes and spatial patterns in vegetation communities:

empirical and theoretical approaches”

Yael Tieberger (2004) ”Spatial and temporal recovery patterns of perennial plants on desert

sand dunes”

Orna Reisman (2004) ”Mechanisms controlling spatio-temporal dynamics of shrubland patch-

iness: the case study of Sarcopoterium spinosum”

Merav Seifan (2005) ”Interactions between shrubs and herbaceous plants in Mediterranean

grazing systems”

Omri Allouche (2008) ”Developing a demographically-based theory of species diversity (62).


• 1993-1998 Lecturer, Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, The Hebrew Uni-

versity

• 1998-2001 Senior lecturer, Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, The Hebrew

University

• 2001-2008 Associate professor, Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, The

Hebrew University

• 2007 Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies, The Hebrew University

• 2008

• Professor, Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, The Hebrew University


1. Kadmon, R., O. Farber & A. Danin. 2003. A systematic analysis of factors affecting the

performance of climatic envelope models. Ecological Applications, 13:853-867.



2. Farber, O. & R. Kadmon 2003. Assessment of alternative approaches for bioclimatic mod-

elling with special emphasize on the Mahalanobis distance. Ecological Modelling 160:115-

130.

3. Malkinson, D., R. Kadmon, & D. Cohen. 2003. Pattern analysis in successional commu-

nities - an approach for studying shifts in ecological interactions. Journal of Vegetation

Science 14:213- 222.

4. Kadmon, R., O. Farber, & A. Danin. 2004. Effect of roadside bias on the accuracy of

predictive maps produced by bioclimatic models. Ecological Applications, 14:401-413.

5. Trakhtenbrot, A. & R. Kadmon. 2005. Environmental cluster analysis as a tool for the selec-

tion of complementary networks of conservation sites. Ecological Applications, 15:335-345.

6. Steinitz, O., J. Heller, A. Tsoar, D. Rotem, & R. Kadmon. 2005. Predicting regional patterns

of similarity in species composition for conservation planning. Conservation Biology,19:1978-

1988.

7. Malkinson, D & R. Kadmon. 2006. The effects of inter-plant interactions and density de-

pendent disturbance on vegetation pattern formation. Landscape Ecology, 21:259-270.

8. Steinitz, O., J. Heller, A. Tsoar, D. Rotem, & R. Kadmon. 2006. Environment, dispersal and

patterns of species similarity. Journal of Biogeography, 33: 1044-1054.

9. Reisman-Berman, O., R. Kadmon, & M. Shachak. 2006. Spatio-temporal scales of dispersal

limitation in the recolonization of a semi-arid Mediterranean old-field. Ecography, 29:418-

426.

10. Kadmon, R. & Y. Benjamini. 2006. Effects of productivity and disturbance on species

richness: a neutral model. American Naturalist, 167: 939-946.

11. Trakhtenbrot, A. & R. Kadmon. 2006. Effectiveness of cluster analysis in representing

regional species diversity. Conservation Biology, 20: 1087-1096.

12. Allouche, O., A. Tsoar, & R. Kadmon. 2006. Assessing the accuracy of species distribution

models: prevalence, Kappa, and the true skill statistic (TSS). Journal of Applied Ecology,

43: 1223- 1232.



13. Malkinson, D. & R. Kadmon. 2007. Vegetation dynamics along a disturbance gradient:

spatial and temporal perspectives. Journal of Arid Environments, 69: 127- 143.

14. Seifan, M. & R. Kadmon. 2006. Indirect effects of cattle grazing on shrub spatial pattern in

a Mediterranean scrub community. Basic and Applied Ecology, 7: 496-506.

15. Oman, S. D., V. L. Landsman, Y. Carmel, and R. Kadmon. 2007. Analyzing spatially

distributed binary data using independent-block estimating equations. Biometrics, 63:892-

900.

16. Tsoar, A, O. Allouche, O. Steinitz, D, Rotem, & R. Kadmon. 2007. A comparative eval-

uation of presence-only methods for modeling species distribution. Diversity and Distribu-

tions, 13:397- 405.

17. Kadmon, R. & O. Allouche. 2007. Integrating island biogeography and niche theory: in-

teractive effects of area, isolation, and habitat heterogeneity. American Naturalist, 170:443-

454.

18. Allouche, O., O. Steinitz, D. Rotem, A. Rosenfeld, and R. Kadmon. 2008. Incorporating

distance constraints into species distribution Models Journal of Applied Ecology.

19. Shachak, M, B. Boeken, E. Groner, R. Kadmon, Y. Lubin, E., Meron, G. Neeman, A.

Perevolotsky, Y. Shkedy & E. Ungar 2008. Woody species as landscape modulators and

their effect on biodiversity patterns. BioScience.

20. Allouche, O & R. Kadmon (2009). Demographic analysis of Hubbell’s neutral theory of

biodiversity. Journal of Theoretical Biology.


• ”An interesting study about something”: Israel Science Foundation:177,000:2000-2004

• ”Biodiversity information and conservation planning”: The Israel Nature and Parks Author-

ity: $44,000: 2000-2002

• ”BioGIS: establishment of a national biodiversity information system”: Yad Hanadiv Foun-

dation: $280,000: 2001-2005



• ”European Network of Biodiversity Information”: EU Fifth Programme: $62,000: 2003-

2005

• ”Integrating field surveys with predictive models for biodiversity conservation in Israel”:

Ministry of Environment: $60,000: 2004-2006

• ”Factors affecting the performance of climatic envelope models”: ISF: $120,000): 2004-

2007

• ”Interactive effects of area, isolation, and habitat heterogeneity on species diversity”: ISF:

$220,000: 2007-2010


Chapter 3

Animal Physiology

3.1 Introduction

Research in Animal Physiology in the Institute for Life Sciences of the Hebrew University cov-

ers a wide range of fields. Although most of the physiological research deals with various aspects

of the function of the nervous system, some studies focus on unraveling the molecular mech-

anisms of basic biophysical processes important in normal and malfunctioning organisms and

cells (Cabantchik). However, the great majority of physiological research in the Institute aims

to understand how nervous systems are organized and function in sickness and health.

The above research area is well demonstrated by the work of the six scientists whose de-

scriptions of their own research follow in the next pages. They demonstrate a very interesting

and fruitful combination between basic scientific research and important medical and indus-

trial outcomes: for example, chronic pain and anesthetic (Devor); neurogenesis and epilepsy

(Mizrahi); robotics (Hochner); audio signals processing (Nelken). Most of this work combines

classic and state-of-the-art techniques - in vivo brain recording of single neurons in behaving

animals (Nelken).

Techniques using genetically encoded florescent proteins together with two-photon microscopy

to monitor brain and cells activity (these techniques were the subject this year Nobel prize); anal-

63


ysis of neurogenesis and neuron migration in adult brains (Mizrahi). Such techniques, as well

as computational approaches, are also employed in the quest for understanding the function

of the cerebellum (Yarom), a structure containing half the nerve cells in the human brain but

whose function is still a matter of debate. Physiological and behavioral studies in the octopus,

a unique invertebrate with vertebrate-like behavior but with a much simpler brain, contribute to

understanding the organization and evolution of complex brains (Hochner).

The physiological studies in the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences are con-

ducted in close collaboration with a strong computational group at the Interdisciplinary Center

for Neural Computation (ICNC) with which some of the scientists are also affiliated. Based on

their achievements and recent publications, they represent one of the internationally strongest

groups researching the biology of brain function.


3.2.1 Ioav Cabantchik


Courses taught:

• Undergraduate: Introduction to Physiology

• Undergraduate: Introduction to Biochemistry

• Undergraduate: Advanced Physiology

• Undergraduate: Advanced Biochemistry

• Undergraduate: Membrane Dynamics

• Graduate: Physiology-Biochemistry-Molecular Biology of Transport Processes, Biochem-

istry of Metals

Personal Information: Born: 20 July 1942, Buenos Aires Argentina Married, children 2



3.2.1.1 Education:

B.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1964, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biology and Chemistry

M.Sc. (cum laude) 1966, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biochemistry

Ph.D. (Cum Laude) 1974, The Univ of Rochester Medical School MD PhD program . Advi-

sor: Prof. A Rothstein, Thesis: ”The anion transporter of red blood cells: identification and

characterization” (Metzger Prize for distinguished MD PhD Thesis of the year).



Sohn Yun Yang ”Intracellular trafficking of iron”

Tali Cohen Iron uptake into macrophages and its intracellular processing

Rinat Ben El The labile iron pool of primary cardiomyocytes as revealed with novel metal

sensors

Maya Shvartsman ”The transport of non-transferrin-bound iron to mitochondria”


Silvina Epsztejn ”The labile iron pool of mammalian cells”


• Professor of Biochemistry and Adelina and Massimo Dellapergola Chair in Life Sciences

• Life Sciences Institute: Head of Life Sciences Program (2004-2006)

• Life Sciences Institute: Head of Institute (2006-2008)

3.2.1.4 Book Chapters / Reviews

1. Cabantchik ZI, Kakhlon O, Epsztejn S, Zanninelli G, Breuer W.(2002). Intracellular and

extracellular labile iron pools. Adv Exp Med Biol. 509:55-75. Review

2. Cabantchik ZI and Breuer, W. (2005). LPI-Labile plasma in iron overload. Best Practice &

Research in Clinical Haematology Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 277287.




or reviews

1. Espsito, B.P, Breuer, V.W., Slotki, I.N. and Cabantchik, Z.I. (2002). Labile iron in parenteral

iron formulations and its potential for generating plasma non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI)

in dialysis patients. E. J. Clin. Inv. 1:42-9.

2. Espsito, B.P., Epsztejn, S. Breuer, W. Cabantchik, Z.I. (2002) A review of fluorescence

methods for assessing labile iron in cells and biological fluids. Anal. Biochem. 1;304(1):1-

18.

3. Esposito BP, Breuer W, Cabantchik ZI. (2002). Design and applications of methods for

fluorescence detection of iron in biological systems. Biochem Soc Trans. 30(4):729-32.

4. Kakhlon O, Cabantchik ZI. (2002) The labile iron pool: characterization, measurement, and

participation in cellular processes . Free Radic Biol Med. 3(8):1037-46.

5. Meijler MM, Arad-Yellin R, Cabantchik ZI, Shanzer A. (2002). Synthesis and evaluation of

iron chelators with masked hydrophilic moieties. J Am Chem Soc. 124:12666-12667.

6. Espsito, BP., Breuer, W., Sirankapracha, P. Pootrakul, P., Hershko, C. and Cabantchik, Z.I.

(2003). Labile plasma iron in iron overload: redox activity and susceptibility to chelators.

Blood. 2003;102: 2670-2677.

7. Pootrakul, P., Breuer, W., Sametband, M., Sirankapracha P., Hershko, C. and Cabantchik,

Z.I. (2004) Labile plasma iron (LPI) as an indicator of chelatable plasma redox activity in

iron overloaded beta-thalassaemia/HbE patients treated with an oral chelator. Blood 104:

1504 1510 .

8. Sulieman M, Asleh R, Cabantchik ZI, Breuer W, Aronson D, Suleiman A, Miller- Lotan

R, Hammerman H, Levy AP. (2004), Serum chelatable redox-active iron is an independent

predictor of mortality after myocardial infarction in individuals with diabetes. Diabetes

Care. 2004 Nov;27(11):2730-2.

9. Zheng H, Weiner LM, Bar-Am O, Epsztejn S, Cabantchik ZI, Warshawsky A, Youdim MB,

Fridkin M.(2005). Designand evaluation of novel bifunctional iron- chelators as potential



agents for neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative dis-

eases. Bioorg Med Chem. 13:773-83.

10. Hershko, C., Konijn, A.M. and Cabantchik, Z.I. (2005). Iron chelation therapy. Current

Hematol. Reports Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 277287.

11. Le Lan, c , O Loral T Cohen, M Ropert, H Glickstein, M Pouchard, Y Deugnier, A Le

Treut,W Breuer, ZI Cabantchik, P Brissot (2005). Association between hepatic damage,

iron overload and incidence of redox-active iron in the plasma. Blood. 105: 4527-4531

12. Glickstein, H, Ben El , R., Shvartsman M. and Z. Ioav Cabantchik (2005). Intracellular

labile iron pools as direct targets of chelators. A fluorescence study of chelator action in

living cells. Blood. 106: 3242-3250

13. Van der A, D.J.; Marx, JJM, Grobbee, DE, Kamphuis, MH; Georgiou, N; van Kats- Renaud,

JH; Breuer, W., Cabantchik, Z.I.; Roest, M, Voorbij, HAM; van der Schouw, YH (2006)

NonTransferrin-Bound Iron and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women

Circulation. 113:1942-1949.

14. Rachmilewitz E.A, Weizer-Stern, O., Adamsky, K., Amariglio, N., Rechavi, R., Brda, L.,

Rivella S.and Cabantchik, Z.I. (2005). Role of Iron in Inducing Oxidative Stress in Tha-

lassemia: Can It Be Prevented by Inhibition of Absorption and by Antioxidants? Ann. N.Y.

Acad. Sci. 1054: 118123.

15. Weizer-Stern O, Adamsky K, Amariglio N, Levin C, Koren A, Breuer W, Rachmilewitz

E, Breda L, Rivella S, Cabantchik ZI, Rechavi G. Downregulation of hepcidin and haemo-

juvelin expression in the hepatocyte cell-line HepG2 induced by thalassaemic sera. Br J

Haematol. 2006;135:129-138.

16. Glickstein H, Ben El R, Link G, Breuer W, Konijn AM, Hershko, C, Nick H and Cabantchik

ZI (2006). Action of chelators in iron-loaded cardiac cells: accessibility to intracellular

labile iron and functional consequences. Blood 108:3195-3203.

17. Boddaert, N., Le-Quan-Sang, K.H., Rtig, A., Leroy-Willig, A., Gallet, S., Brunelle, F.,

Sidi,D., Thalabard, J.C., Munnich, A. and Cabancthik, Z.I. (2007) Iron chelation treatment



evokes a reduction of MRI R2* values in a brain area implicated in Fiedereich’s ataxia.

Blood. 110: 401-408

18. Gardenghi, S., Marongiu, M.F., Ramos, P., Guy, E., Breda, L., Chadburn, A., Liu, Y.F.,

Amariglio, N., Rechavi, G., Rachmilewitz, E.A., Breuer, W., Cabantchik, Z.I., Wrighting,

D.M., Andrews, N.A., de Sousa, M., Giardina, P.J., Grady, R.W. and Rivella, S. (2007).

Ineffective erythropoiesis in b-thalassemia is characterized by increased iron absorption me-

diated by down-regulation of hepcidin and up-regulation of ferroportin. Blood. 109: 4599-

4606.

19. Shvartsman M, Kikkeri, R, Shanzer A, Cabantchik ZI (2007). Iron accesses mitochondria

from a cytosolic pool of non-labile iron. Biological and clinical implications. Am J Physiol

Cell Physiol 293: C1383-C1394

20. Hershko, C., Ronson, A., Soroujourn, M., Patz, J. and Z.I. Cabantchik (2007). Mechanism

of iron regulation and of iron deficiency. Haematologica. 92:583-588

21. Breuer, W., Shvartsman, M., Cabantchik, Z.I. (2008) Intracellular labile iron. A review. Int

J Biochem Cell Biol. . 40: 350-354

22. Sung, Y.S., Breuer W, Munnich , A. , Cabancthik ZI. (2008) Redistribution of accumulated

cell iron. A modality of chelation with therapeutic implications. Blood. 111:1690-1699.

23. Kakhlon, O., Manning, H., Breuer, W, Cortopassi, G.,, Munnich , A. , Cabantchik ZI. (2008).

Cell functions impaired by frataxin deficiency are restored by drug- mediated iron relocation.

Blood. 112:5219-27.

24. Cabantchik, Z.I., Breuer W, Munnich , A. and Kakhlon O. 2009. Neurological disorders

associated with iron misdistribution: The therapeutic potential of siderophores. Neurology.

In press.

25. Breuer W. and Cabantchik, Z.I. (2009). Disorders of iron misdistribution: causes, conse-

quences and treatment. BloodMed. In press.




• European Community FP V : (2002-2005), Total sum:300,000 euros Title: Iron in hemochro-

matosis. deleterious effects of an essential nutrient

• European Community FPVI (2006-2009)Total sum: 240,000 euros Title:”Genetic basis of

iron disorders” Israel Science Foundation (2005-09) :The labile iron pool in health and dis-

ease (150,000 usd)

• AFM (2006-08) Total sum: 90,000 euros Title: ”A bench approach to the treatment of

Friedreich ataxia.

3.2.2 Marshall Devor


Courses taught:

• Neural mechanisms of animal behavior

• Advanced physiology

• Physiology A and B

• BSc. seminar in psychobiology

• Guided encounter (mifgash mudrach) with biological research for psychobiology students

• Laboratory course in psychobiology

• Director, Psychobiology teaching program (hug).

Personal Information: Born: 8 January 1949, Toronto, Canada Immigration to Israel: 1975

2 children

Education:

A.B. (magna cum laude) 1970, Princeton University, Princeton New Jersey, USA: Psychology

(+biology).

Ph.D. 1975, M.I.T., Cambridge Mass. USA: Dept. Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Advisor: Prof.

Stephen Chorover, Thesis: ”Neuroplasticity in the sparing or deterioration of function after



early olfactory tract lesions”.

Postdoctoral fellow 1975, University College London, UK, Advisor: Prof. Patrick D. Wall.

Postdoctoral fellow 1975-77, Hebrew University, Institute of Life Sciences, Jerusalem Israel,

Advisor: Prof. Patrick D. Wall


• 1977-79 Research Associate, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University

• 1979-83 Senior Lecturer, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University

• 1984 Visiting Scholar, Dept. Anatomy, Univ. California, San Francisco

• 1985 Visiting Scholar, Dept. Neurology, McGill University Medical School

• 1983-88 Associate Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University

• 1987 Visiting scholar, Dept. Neuroscience, Univ. of California, San Diego

• 1988- Full Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University

• 2002-03 Visiting Prof. of Neurology, BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, Boston


1. Devor, M. Commentary on The pathophysiology of damaged peripheral nerves, by Jose’

Ochoa, in: Surgical Management of Pain, K. Burchiel, Editor, Thieme, New York, (2002)

2. Devor, M. Pain Networks In: Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks, 2nd ed.

M.A. Arbib, ed., Bradford Books/ The MIT Press, (2002) pp. 843-848.

3. Sukhotinsky, I., Zalkind, V. and Devor, M. Anesthetic effect of barbiturates microinjected

into the brainstem: Neuroanatomy. In: Dostrovsky, JO, Carr, DB Jr., Koltzenburg, M. eds.

Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Pain, Progress in Pain Research and Manage-

ment, vol. 24, Seattle: IASP Press, pp. 305-313 (2003).

4. Flor, H., Devor M, Jensen, TS. Phanton limb pain: causes and cures. In: Dostrovsky, JO,

Carr, DB Jr., Koltzenburg, M. eds. Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Pain, Progress

in Pain Research and Management, vol. 24, Seattle: IASP Press, pp: 725-738 (2003).



5. Sofaer, B., Niv, D. and Devor, M. Don’t suffer in silence: Information on chronic pain for

pain patients. Translated into 18 languages. EFIC, 2003.

6. Devor, M. Forward to: The Journey to Pain Relief. P. Berger, South Africa: Art2Print v-x

(2003).

7. Mogil J.S and Devor M. Introduction to pain genetics. in: The Genetics of Pain, J. Mogil ed.

Progress in Pain Research and Management, vol. 28, Seattle: IASP Press pp. 1-17 (2004).

8. Mogil J.S., Seltzer, Z, and Devor, M. Gene-environment interactions affecting pain pheno-

type. in: The Genetics of Pain, J. Mogil ed. Progress in Pain Research and Management,

vol. 28, Seattle: IASP Press pp. 257-282 (2004).

9. Devor, M., Erdine, S. and Ruiz-Lopez R. eds. 3rd World Congress World Institute of Pain,

Book of Abstracts, Pain Practice (2004).

10. Basbaum, A., Bushnell, C.M. and Devor, M. Pain: basic mechanisms. Pain 2005 An up-

dated review: Refresher course syllabus. D.M. Justins ed. IASP Press, Seattle (2005)

11. Devor, M. Response of nerves to injury in relation to neuropathic pain. Chapter 58 in

McMahon SL and Koltzenburg, M. eds. Wall and Melzack’s Textbook of Pain, 5th edition,

Churchill Livingstone, London, pp. 905-927 (2006).

12. Michael S. Gold, Iain Chessell, Marshall Devor, Andy Dray, Robert W. Gereau, Stephanie

Kane, Martin Koltzenburg, Jean Claude Louis, Matthias Ringkamp, Rolf- Detlef Treede

Peripheral nervous system targets. In: Emerging Strategies for the Treatment of Neuropathic

Pain, edited by James N. Campbell, MD, Allan I. Basbaum, PhD, Andr Dray, PhD, Ronald

Dubner, DDS, PhD, Robert H. Dworkin, PhD, and Christine N. Sang, MD, MPH. IASP

Press, (2006) pp. 3-36

13. Devor M. Peripheral Nerve Generators of Neuropathic Pain. In: Emerging Strategies for the

Treatment of Neuropathic Pain, edited by Campbell, J.N., Basbaum, A.I., Dray, A. Dubner,

R. Dworkin, R.H., Sang, C.N. Seattle, IASP Press, (2006) pp. 37- 68.

14. Devor, M. Anesthesia Dolorosa Model, autotomy. In: Encyclopedia of Pain, RF Schmidt

and Wm. Willis, eds. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2006, pp. 84-87.



15. Devor, M. Central changes after peripheral nerve injury. in: Wm. Willis and R. Schmidt

eds. Encyclopedia of Pain, Springer-Verlag, (2006) pp. 306-311.

16. Devor, M. Peripheral neuropathic pain in: Wm. Willis and R. Schmidt eds. Encyclopedia of

Pain, Springer-Verlag, (2006) pp. 1790-1800.

17. Rappaport, Z.H. and Devor, M. Tic and cranial neuralgias. in: Wm. Willis and R. Schmidt


18. Amir, R., Rappaport, Z.H. and Devor, M. Pain paroxysms. in: Wm. Willis and R. Schmidt


19. Tal, M., Kim, J., Back, S.K., Na, H.S., Devor, M. Onset of ectopic firing in the chung model

of neuropathic pain coincides with the onset of tactile allodynia. in: Flor, H., Kalso, E.,

Dostrovsky, J.O. Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Pain, Seattle: IASP Press, pp:

119-130 (2006).

20. Devor, M. Pathophysiology of Nerve Injury in: Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 3rd series,

vol. 81, Pain. F. Cervero and T.S. Jensen eds. Elsevier pp. 261-276 (2006).

21. Tal M., Devor M. Anatomy and neurophysiology of orofacial pain Chapter 2: in Orofacial

Pain and Headache, Y. Sharav and R. Benouliel eds. Blackwell, (2008) pp. 19-44.

22. Devor, M. Consciousness and pain. in: A. Basbaum, C. Bushnell and D. Julius, eds. Hand-

book of the Senses, vol. 3.- Pain, Elsevier, (2008) in press.

23. Devor, M. Ectopic generators. in: A. Basbaum, C. Bushnell and D. Julius, eds. Handbook

of the Senses, vol. 3.- Pain, Elsevier, (2008) in press.

24. Devor M Pain and genes. In: Squire LR (ed.) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, volume 7,

Oxford: Academic Press, (2009) pp. 355-359.


1. Devor, M., Amir, R. and Rappaport, Z.H. Pathophysiology of trigeminal neuralgia: the igni-

tion hypothesis. Clinical Journal of Pain 18: 4-13 (2002).

2. Liu, C.-N., Devor, M., Waxman, S.G., Kocsis, J.D. Subthreshold oscillations induced by



spinal nerve injury in dissociated muscle and cutaneous afferent neurons of mouse DRG.

Journal of Neurophysiology, 87: 2009-2017 (2002).

3. Amir, R., Michaelis, M., Devor, M. Burst discharge in primary sensory neurons: triggered

by subthreshold oscillations, maintained by depolarizing afterpotentials. Journal of Neuro-

science 22: 1187-1198 (2002).

4. Amir, R., Liu, C.-N., Kocsis, J.D. and Devor, M. Oscillatory mechanism in primary sensory

neurones. Brain 125: 421-435 (2002).

5. Devor, M. Govrin-Lippmann, R. and Rappaport, Z.H. Mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia in

light of the ultrastructure of trigeminal root biopsies taken during microvascular decompres-

sion surgery. Journal of Neurosurgery 96 (2002) 532-543.

6. Devor, M., Govrin-Lippmann, R., Rappaport, Z.H., Tasker, R.R., Dostrovsky, J. Cranial

root pathology in glossopharyngeal neuralgia: electron microscopic observations. Journal

of Neurosurgery 96 (2002) 603-606.

7. Raber, P. and Devor, M. Social variables affect pain phenotype in the neuroma model of

neuropathic pain. Pain 97 (2002) 139-150.

8. Niv D, Gofeld M, Devor M Causes of pain in degenerative bone and joint disease: a lesson

from vertebroplasty. Pain. 105 (2003) 387-392.

9. Amir R, Devor M Electrical excitability of the soma of sensory neurons is required for spike

invasion of the soma, but not for through-conduction. Biophysical Journal 84 (2003) 2181-

2191.

10. Amir R, Devor M Extra spike formation in sensory neurons and the disruption of afferent

spike patterning. Biophysical Journal 84 (2003) 2700-2708.

11. Devor, M. Pain centralization and the transition from acute to chronic pain. ASRA Newslet-

ter, 2003.

12. Amir R., Devor, M. 2003 Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronal model. Model DB. sense-

lab.med.yale.edu/ModelDb/ShowModel.asp?model=51022&file=amirdevor03/

13. Niv D, Gofeld M, and Devor M. Pain aetiology in degenerative bone and joint disease: what



is known from experience with vertebroplasty (in Hebrew). Israel Journal of Symptoms and

Pain Control, 11(2003) 4-9.

14. Devor, M. On dialog between clinicians and basic scientists. Pain 101 (2003) 307- 308.

15. Sukhotinsky, I., Ben-Dor, E., Raber, P. and Devor, M. Key role of the dorsal root ganglion in

neuropathic tactile hypersensibility. European Journal of Pain, 8 (2004) 135-143.

16. Devor, M. Strategies for finding new pharmacological targets for neuropathic pain. Current

Pain and Headache Reports, 8 (2004) 187-191.

17. Devor, M. Evidence for heritability of pain in patients with traumatic neuropathy. Pain 108

(2004) 200-201.

18. Niv, D. and Devor, M. Chronic pain as a disease in its own right. Pain Practice 4 (2004) 179

-181.

19. Amir, R., Kocsis, J.D. and Devor M. Multiple interacting sites of ectopic spike electrogenesis

in primary sensory neurons J. Neurosci. 25 (2005) 2576-2585.

20. Devor, M. Pain is perception calibrating qualia. J. Neuropathic Pain & Symptom Palliation

1(2005) 17-18.

21. Devor, M., del Canho, S. and Raber, P. Heritability of symptoms in the neuroma model of

neuropathic pain: replication and complementation analysis Pain. 16 (2005) 294-230.

22. Sukhotinsky I., Hopkins D.A., Lu J., Saper C.B. and Devor M. Movement suppression dur-

ing anesthesia: neural projections from the mesopontine tegmentum to areas involved in

motor control. J. Comp. Neurol. (2005) 489:425-48.

23. Winkler I., Blotnik, S., Shimshoni, J., Yagen, B., Devor, M., Bialer, M. Efficacy of antiepilep-

tic isomers of valproic acid and valpromide in a rat model of neuropathic pain. British Jour-

nal of Pharmacology, 146 (2005) 198-208.

24. Devor M., Gilad, A., Arbilly, M., Yakir, B., Raber, P., Pisant, A., Darvasi, A. pain1: A

neuropathic pain QTL on mouse chromosome15 in a C3H x C58 backcross. Pain 116 (2005)

289-293.

25. Winkler, I., Sobol, E., Yagen, B., Steinman, A., Devor, M., and Bialer, M. Efficacy of



antiepileptic tetramethylcyclopropyl analogues of valproic acid amides in a rat model of

neuropathic pain. Psychopharmacology;49 (2005)1110-1120.

26. Mogil JS, Miermeister F, Seifert F, Strasburg K, Zimmermann K, Reinold H, Austin JS,

Bernardini N, Chesler EJ, Hofmann HA, Hordo C, Messlinger K, Nemmani KV, Rankin

AL, Ritchie J, Siegling A, Smith SB, Sotocinal S, Vater A, Lehto SG, Klussmann S, Quirion

R, Michaelis M, Devor M, Reeh PW. Variable sensitivity to noxious heat is mediated by

differential expression of the CGRP gene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

(USA) 102 (2005) 12938-43.

27. Devor, M. Sodium channels and mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Journal of Pain, Suppl 1

(2006) S3-S12

28. Weissner, W., Winterson, B.J., Stuart-Tilley, A., Devor, M. Bove, G.M. Time course of

substance P expression in dorsal root ganglia following complete spinal nerve transection.

Journal of Comparative Neurology 497 (2006) 78-87.

29. Niv, D., Devor, M. Refractory neuropathic pain: the nature and extent of the problem Pain

Practice 6 (2006) 3-9.

30. Devor M. Centralization, central sensitization and neuropathic pain. J Neurophysiol 96

(2006) 522-523.

31. Lu J, Sherman D, Devor M, Saper CB. A putative flip-flop switch for control of REM sleep.

Nature. 441 (2006) 589-594.

32. Raber P, del Canho S, Darvasi A, Devor M. Mice congenic for a locus that determines

phenotype in the neuroma model of neuropathic pain for: Experimental Neurology 202

(2006) 200-206.

33. Arbilly M, Pisant A, Devor M and Darvasi A. An integrative approach for the identification

of quantitative trait loci. Animal Genetics 37 Suppl. 1 (2006) 7-9.

34. Sukhotinsky I, Reiner K, Govrin-Lippmann R, Belenky M, Lu J, Hopkins DA, Saper CB,

Devor M. Projections from the mesopontine tegmental anesthesia area to regions involved

in pain modulation. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 32 (2006) 159-178.



35. Sukhotinsky I, Zalkind V, Lu J, Hopkins DA, Saper CB, Devor M. Neural pathways asso-

ciated with loss of consciousness caused by intracerebral microinjection of GABAA -active

anesthetics. European Journal of Neuroscience 25 (2007) 1417 - 1436.

36. Devor, M. Pain centralization: does pain really burn itself into the brain ? e-news for So-

matosensory Rehabilitation 2007, Tome 4 (Vol. 1). www.unifr.ch/neuro/rouiller/somesthesie/

enews2007/e-news%204(1).pdf

37. Nissenbaum J., Shpigler H., Pisante A., DelCanho, S., Minert A., Seltzer, Z., Devor M.,

Darvasi A. pain2: A neuropathic pain QTL identified on rat chromosome 2. Pain 135 (2007)

92-97.

38. Niv D, Devor M. Position paper of the European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) on the

subject of pain management. Eur J Pain 11 (2007):487-489.

39. Minert, A., Gabay E., Dominguez C., Wiesenfeld-Hallin, Z., Devor, M. Spontaneous pain

following spinal nerve injury in mice. Experimental Neurology 206 (2007) 220-230.

40. Reiner K, Sukhotinsky, I, Devor M. Mesopontine tegmental anesthesia area projects inde-

pendently to the rostromedial medulla and to the spinal cord. Neuroscience 146 (2007)

1355-1370.

41. Devor M., Gilad A., Arbilly M., Nissenbaum J., Yakir B., Raber P., Minert A., Pisant A.,

Darvasi A. Sex specific variability and a ”cage effect” independently mask a neuropathic

pain QTL detected in a whole genome scan. European J Neuroscience 26 (2007) 681-688.

42. Devor M. Pain, cortex, and consciousness. Behav Brain Sci. 30 (2007) 89-90.

43. Lefler Y, Arzi A, Reiner K, Sukhotinsky I, Devor M. Bulbospinal neurons of the rat ros-

tromedial medulla are highly collateralized. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 506 (2008)

960-978.

44. Reiner K., Sukhotinsky I. and Devor M. Bulbospinal neurons implicated in mesopontine

induced anesthesia are highly collateralized. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 508 (2008)

418-436.

45. Devor, M. Obituary: David Niv 1950 2007. Pain 94 (2007) 125-129.



46. Kaufmann D, Yagen B, Minert A, Tal M, Devor M, Bialer M. Evaluation of the enantios-

elective antiallodynic and pharmacokinetic profile of propylisopropyl- acetamide, a chiral

isomer of valproic acid amide. Neuropharmacology. 54 (2008) 699-707.

47. Kovalsky Y, Amir R, Devor M. Subthreshold oscillations facilitate neuropathic spike dis-

charge by overcoming membrane accommodation. Experimental Neurology 210 (2008)

194-206.

48. Devor, M., Wood, I., Sharav, Y. and Zakrzewska, J.M., Trigeminal neuralgia during sleep.

Pain Pract. (2008).

49. Abulafia R., Zalkind V. and Devor M. Cerebral activity during the anesthesia-like state in-

duced by mesopontine microinjection of pentobarbital. J. Neurosci. In press. 2009


• BSF $95,000: 4/2000 - 3/2003 with J. Kocsis, Yale University, BSF #1998-095 (HUJI acct.

# 037-8242).”Ectopic firing mechanism in neuropathic pain”

• Israel Ministry of Science (Israel-Korea cooperation) $50,000: 12/2002 - 11/2004 with H-

S Na, University of Seoul (HUJI # 039-7274) ”Genetics of chronic pain in experimental

neuropathy”

• ISF 133000: 10/2002-9/2006, ISF #588/02 ”Brainstem locus for modulation of behavior and

alertness”

• GIF E157,000 : 2004-2007 with Peter Reeh, Erlangen University, ”Pain polymorphisms:

using behavioral genetics...”

• GIF # I-772-252.1/2002 ”Pain genes” European Union fp6 (consortium coordinator) ca.

E2,000,000, HUJI share E452,000 5/2004-4/2007.

• BSF $100,000: 4/2003- 3/2008 with J. Kocsis, Yale University, BSF #2001-068 (HUJI acct.

# 037-8331) ”Pain and Epilepsy”.

• Israel Center for Psychobiology, $45,000: 11/2007-10/2009, with Ron Amir ”The role of

the sodium channel Nav 1.3 in the mechanism of chronic neuropathic pain”



• HUJI Center for Research on Pain, $15,000: 11/2007-10/2010 ”Genetic animal resource

maintenance”

3.2.3 Adi Mizrahi


Courses taught:

• Introduction to Physiology

• Topics in Neurobiology

• Advanced Physiology

Personal Information: Born: 3 January 1970, Beer Sheva, Israel Married, 3 children

3.2.3.1 Education:

B.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1995, Ben Gurion University, Israel: Biology.

Ph.D. (Cum Laude) 2001, Ben Gurion University, Neuroscience. Advisor: Prof. F. Libersat,

Thesis: ”Quantitative analysis of dendritic architecture and plasticity of identified neurons”.



Gilead Raday (2007) - ”Towards a genetically encode calcium indicator for in vivo imaging”


• Head of the Brain and behavior graduate program.

Major publications (2002-date):


1. MIZRAHI A. AND LIBERSAT F. (2002) Afferent input regulates the formation of distal

dendritic branches. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 452: 1-10 (with cover illustration).



2. MIZRAHI A. AND KATZ L.C. (2003) Dendritic stability in the adult olfactory bulb. Nature

Neuroscience, 6: 1201-1207. (accompanied by a ”News and Views” article).

3. MIZRAHI A , CROWLEY J.C, SHTOYERMAN E. AND KATZ L.C. (2004) High reso-

lution in vivo imaging of hippocampal dendrites and spines. Journal of Neuroscience, 24:

3147-3151.

4. MIZRAHI A., MATSUNAMI H. AND KATZ L.C. (2004) An imaging-based approach to

identify ligands for olfactory receptors. Neuropharmacology, 47: 661-668.

5. LIBERSAT F., LEUNG V., MIZRAHI A., MATHENIA N. AND COMER C. (2005) Mat-

uration of escape circuit function during the early adulthood of cockroaches Periplaneta

americana. Journal of Neurobiology, 62: 62-71.

6. MIZRAHI A., LU J., IRVING I., FENG G., AND KATZ L.C. (2006) In vivo imaging of

juxtaglomerular turnover in the mouse olfactory bulb. Proceedings of the National Academy

of Sciences (USA). 103:1912-1917. (Submitted via Track II).

7. MIZRAHI A. (2007) Dendritic development and plasticity of adult born neurons in the

mouse olfactory bulb. Nature Neuroscience. 10: 444-452.

8. LIVNEH Y., FEINSTEIN N., KLEIN M., AND MIZRAHI A. (2009) Sensory input en-

hances synaptogenesis of adult-born neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. In Press.


• ”The role of newborn inhibitory neurons in memory formation of the olfactory system in the

mouse”: The Israeli Institute for Psychobiology. Total Grant sum 20,000 USD: 2005-2007.

• ”Target recognition of newborn neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb”. German Israeli Foun-

dation (G.I.F) Young Scientist Program: Total grant sum 30,000 Euro: 2006.

• ”In vivo imaging of developing neurons and synapse formation in the mammalian brain”:

Israeli Science Foundation. Total grant sum 700,000 USD: 2005-2008.

• ”Neuronal Structure and Function in the Epileptic brain: In vivo Imaging From Synapses

to Networks”: Joint German Israeli research grant from the Ministry of Science and Tech-



nology (MOST) and the Bundesministerium fr Bildung und Forschung (BMBF). Total grant

sum 151,000 Euro: 2005-2008.

• ”Deterministic and stochastic choices of cell fate and wiring specificity in the CNS” Program

Grant. The Human Frontier Science Program. Total grant sum 300,000 USD: 2007-2010.

• ”Is There A Therapeutic Role For Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) In Post Trau-

matic Epilepsy?” Absich-Frenkel Foundation. Total grant sum 30,000 USD: 2007-2009.

• ”In vivo time-lapse imaging of an epileptogenic focus in post traumatic epilepsy”: CURE

(Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy). Total grant sum 150,000 USD: 2008-2010.

• ”In vivo imaging of functional plasticity in the mammalian brain”: European Research

Council (ERC): Total grant sum, 1,700,000 Euro: 2008-2013

3.2.4 Israel Nelken

Academic Rank: Full Professor

Courses taught:

• Physiology: advanced level (72343)

• Physiology of the Nervous System A (76900)

• The theory and practice of neural data analysis (78891) (given on alternate years).

Personal Information: Born: 3 November 1961, Jerusalem, Israel Married to Miriam, 3

daughters

3.2.4.1 Education:

B.Sc. (Summa Cum Laude) 1982, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Mathematics and

physics

M.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1985, The Hebrew University, Physiology, faculty of medicine. Advisor:

Prof. Moshe Abeles, Thesis: the activity of neurons in stochastic settings.

Ph.D. 1991, The Hebrew University: Physiology, faculty of medicine. Advisor: Prof. Moshe

Abeles, Thesis: ”Coding of complex sounds in the cerebral cortex of mammals”.





Odelia Shayevitz (to finish 2009): Statistical characterization of natural sound ensembles.


*Sygal Amitai (2002) ”Basic visual and auditory processing in dyslexia” (with Prof. S. Hochstein

and Prof. M. Ahissar, Hebrew University)

*Gal Chechik (2003) ”The neural code in the auditory system: an information-theoretic ap-

proach” (with Prof. N. Tishby, Hebrew University)

Nachum Ulanovsky (2004) ”Adaptation in the cat auditory cortex”

Omer Bar Yosef (2005) - ”Processing of natural chirps in the primary auditory cortex of cats”

Liora Las (2007) ”The relationships between physiological properties, projection targets and

morphology of neurons in auditory cortex”

Dina Moshitch (to finish 2009) ”Binaural processing in the ascending auditory pathways”

*Mor Nachum (to finish 2009) ”The auditory reverse hierarchy theory in perception and per-

ceptual learning” (With Prof. M. Ahissar, Hebrew University)

Nevo Taaseh (to finish 2010) ”The cellular basis of pre-attentive evoked pontetials”

*Jonathan Rubin (to finish 2010) ”Adaptation in the auditory system”(With Prof. N. Tishby,

Hebrew University)

*Roie Klipper (to finish 2011) ”Learning complex neural representations using distance func-

tion learning” (With Prof. D. Weinshall, Hebrew University)


• 1993-2000 Lecturer, Department of Physiology, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical

School, Jerusalem, Israel

• 2000-2003 Senior Lecturer (with tenure), Department of Physiology, The Hebrew University

- Hadassah Medical School



• 2003-2005 Senior Lecturer (with tenure), Department of Neurobiology, The Silberman In-

stitute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

• 2005-2008 Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology, The Silberman Institute of

Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

• 2008

• Full Professor, Department of Neurobiology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Fac-

ulty of Sciences, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel


1. Amitay S, Ahissar E and Nelken I. Auditory Processing Deficits in Reading Disabled Adults.

J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 3: 302-20, 2002.

2. Bar-Yosef O, Rotman Y and Nelken I. Responses of Neurons in Cat Primary Auditory Cortex

to Bird Chirps: Effects of Temporal and Spectral Context. J. Neurosci. 22:8619-3220, 2002.

3. Ulanovsky N, Las L and Nelken I. Processing of low-probability sounds by cortical neurons.

Nat. Neurosci., 6:391-8, 2003

4. Fishbach A, Yeshurun Y and Nelken I. A Neural Model for Physiological Responses to Fre-

quency and Amplitude Transitions Uncovers Topographical Order in the Auditory Cortex.

J. Neurophys., 90:3663-78, 2003

5. Nelken I, Fishbach A, Las L, Ulanovsky N and Farkas D. Primary auditory cortex of cats:

feature detection or something else? Biol. Cybern. 89:397-406, 2003

6. Griffiths TD, Warren JD, Scott SK, Nelken I and King AJ. Cortical processing of complex

sound: a way forward? TINS 27:181-5, 2004

7. Nelken, I. Processing of complex stimuli and natural scenes in the auditory cortex. Current

Opinion in Neurobiology, 14:474-480, 2004.

8. Nelken I, Bizley JK, Nodal FR, Ahmed B, Schnupp JWH and King AJ. Large-scale orga-

nization of ferret auditory cortex revealed using continuous acquisition of intrinsic optical

signals. J. Neurophysiol., 92:2574-88, 2004



9. Ulanovsky N, Las L, Farkas D, Nelken I. Multiple time scales of adaptation in auditory

cortex neurons. J. Neurosci. 24:10440-53, 2004

10. Las L, Stern EA, Nelken I. Representation of tone in fluctuating maskers in the ascending

auditory system. J Neurosci. 25:1503-13, 2005

11. Bizley JK, Nodal FR, Nelken I, and King AJ. Functional organization of ferret auditory

cortex. Cereb Cortex. 15:1637-53, 2005

12. Nelken I, Chechik G, Mrsic-Flogel TD, King AJ, Schnupp JWH. Encoding stimulus infor-

mation by spike numbers and mean response time in primary auditory cortex. J Comput

Neurosci. 19:199-221, 2005

13. Moshitz D, Las L, Ulanovsky N, Bar-Yosef O and Nelken I. Responses of A1 neurons to

pure tones in the halothane-anesthetized cat. J. Neurophysiol., 95(6):3756-69, 2006

14. Chechik G, Anderson MJ, Bar-Yosef O, Young ED, Tishby N and Nelken I. Transformations

of stimulus representations in the ascending auditory pathway. Neuron 51(3):359-68, 2006

15. Bizley JK, Nodal FR, Bajo VM, Nelken I, and King AJ. Physiological and Anatomical

Evidence for Multisensory Interactions in Auditory Cortex. Cereb Cortex, 17:2172-89, 2007

16. Nelken I and Chechik G. Information theory in auditory research. Hear. Res. 229:94-105,

2007

17. Loebel A, Nelken I and Tsodyks M. Processing of sounds by population spikes in a model

of primary auditory cortex. Frontiers in Neuroscience 1:197-209, 2007

18. Nelken I and Ulanovsky N. Change detection, mismatch negativity and stimulus-specific

adaptation in animal models. J. Psychophysiol. 21:214-223, 2007.

19. Bar-Yosef O and Nelken I. The effects of background noise on the neural responses to natural

sounds in cat primary auditory cortex. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 1:3, 2007

20. Gordon N, Shackleton TM, Palmer AR and Nelken I. Responses of neurons in the inferior

colliculus to binaural disparities: insights from the use of Fisher information and mutual

information. J Neurosci Methods. 169:391-404, 2008

21. Nelken I, Bizley JK, Nodal FR, Ahmed B, Schnupp JWH and King AJ. Responses of au-



ditory cortex to complex stimuli: functional organization using intrinsic optical signals. J

Neurophysiol. 99:1928-41, 2008

22. Las L, Shapira A and Nelken I. Space Sensitivity in the auditory cortex of the cat. J. Neu-

rosci., 28:3657-67, 2008

23. Bitterman Y, Mukamel R, Malach R, Fried I and Nelken I. Ultra-fine frequency tuning re-

vealed in single neurons of human auditory cortex. Nature 451:197-201, 2008

24. Nahum, M, Nelken I and Ahissar M. Low-level information and high-level perception: the

case of speech in noise. PLoS Biology, 6:e126, 2008

25. Yuval-Greenberg S, Tomer O, Keren AS, Nelken I and Deouell LY. Transient induced gamma-

band response in EEG as a manifestation of miniature saccades. Neuron 58:429-41, 2008

26. Nelken I and Bar-Yosef O. Neurons and objects: the case of auditory cortex. Frontiers in

Neuroscience 2(1):107-113, 2008.

27. Parush N, Arkadir D, Nevet A, Morris G, Tishby N, Nelken I and Bergman H. Encoding by

response Duration in the Basal Ganglia. J. Neurophysiol. 100(6):3244-52, 2008

28. Nelken I. Processing of complex sounds in the auditory system. Current Opinions in Neuro-

biology 18(4):413-7, 2008

29. Ahissar M, Nahum M, Nelken I and Hochstein S. Reverse Hierarchies and Sensory Learning.

Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. Lond. Biol Sci. 2008 [Epub ahead of print]


• Temporal intevation in the auditory system: AFIRNe:$5800-2004

• Auditory stimulus-specific adaptation in single units and evoked potentials: electrophysio-

logical and pharmacological properties:ISF:$175000-2005-2008

• Utilizing multimodal virtual space techniques to study auditory-visual interactions in spatial

localization: FIRST:$115000-2005-2007, together with Yoram Gutfreund (Tehcnion)

• Comodulation masking release (CMR) in the mouse: a behavioral and electrophysiological

study: Niedersachsen-Israel joint program: $75000-2006-2007, together with Georg Klump



(Oldenburg)

• Novelty Tuning: Behavioral, electrophysiological and molecular mechanisms of novelty de-

tection:EU FP6: Euro 2,400,000-2006-2009, together with Mallet, Tronche (Paris), Schnupp

(Oxford), Kaczmarek (Warsaw), Lipp (Zurich) and Soreq (Hebrew University)

3.2.5 Binyamin Hochner


Courses taught:

• Doctorate course in Research Methods in Neurobiology for graduate students in the Inter-

disciplinary Programs for Neural Computation (ICNC) (Course #76905)

• Laboratory course in Brain and Behavior for Psychobiology undergraduate students (Course

#72349)

• From Cell to Organism. A basic introductory course in the fundamentals of biology for

students from various disciplines (Course #72108)

• Previous teaching

• Brain Sciences and Behavior (Course #72385)

• Marine Animal Behavior (Course #76705)

• From Transgene to Organism (Course #92984)

• Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (Course #76710)

• Undergraduate students seminar in brain and behavior sciences (Course #72349)

Personal Information: Born: May 1946, Israel Married, 3 children

3.2.5.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1968 - 1970 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Biology : Physiology and Biochem-

istry.

M.Sc. 1970 - 1973 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dept of Neurobiology. Neurophysiol-

ogy, Advisor: Prof. Micha Spira



Ph.D. 1973 - 1982 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dept of Neurobiology. Neurophysi-

ology, Advisor: Prof. Micha Spira Thesis: Alternation in functional connectivity of neurons

during the development of the cockroach Periplaneta Americana

Post-Doctoral Fellow 1983 - 1985 Columbia University, Center for Neurobiology and Behav-

ior. Neurobiology of Learning & Memory, Host: Prof. Eric R. Kandel. (Nobel Laureate,

2000)



Dr. Noa Farchi* (1998 2004), ”The roles of acetylcholinesterase splice variants in neuronal

and muscle function: Transgenic engineering approach” (co-supervisors - Prof. H. Soreq)

Dr. German Sumbre* (1998 2004), ”The involvement of central and peripheral mechanisms

in the control of octopus arm movements” (co-supervisor - Prof. Y. Yarom)

Dr. Yoram Yekutieli* (1997 - 2005, ICNC program) ”Analysis of motion control in the flexible

arm of the octopus” (co-supervisors Profs. T. Flash and I. Segev)

Tal Shomrat * (2002 - ), ”Neurobiology of learning and memory in the octopus”

Guy Levi * (2006- , ICNC program) ”Neural mechanisms for coordination of octopus arms

movements” (co-supervisors Prof. T. Flash)

Dr. Letizia Zullo (2002 2005), ”Functional organization of the sensory-motor areas in the CNS

of Octopus vulgaris” Supervisor Prof. Claudio Agnisola, Universita di Napoli, Federico II.

Dr. Marina Langella (2001 2005), ”Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the vertical lobe of

Octopus volgaris”, Supervisor Dr. Euan Brown, Open University of London, UK.


Hadas Eichenstein* (2004-), ”Electrophysiology of the octopus neuromuscular system”

Shlomi Hanassi* (2005-), ”Reaching Movements of the Octopus Involve both Bend Propaga-

tion and Arm Elongation”



Tamar Gutnick (2006-), ”Neurophysiology of octopus and cuttlefish learning and memory sys-

tems”

Sara Greenwood (2007-) ”The role of neuromodulators in learning and memory of the octo-

pus”


• 1985 - 1986 Berman fellowship, Department of Neurobiology, Mechanisms underlying re-

generation. Collaboration with Prof. M. Spira #10

• 1986 - 1992 Research Fellow at Otto Loewi Center, Department of Neurobiology. Senior

Lecturer. Collaboration with Profs. H Parnas and I Parnas. #3, 12, 15, 16, 17

• 1992-2008 Independent Researcher fellow at the Department of Neurobiology Institute of

Life Sciences and Teacher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Neuronal Computation. Re-

search in the area of neurobiology of motor behavior

• 1997- 2008 Administrative Appointment as a Teaching Assistant in the Institute of Life

Sciences with a special Dean permission to conduct independent research projects.

• 2008 - Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurobiology


1. Yekutieli Y.S Sumbre G.S Flash T.PI Hochner B.PI (2002). How to move with no rigid

skeleton? The octopus has the answers. Biologist (London) 49:250-254. (Invited paper)

2. Rokni D.S Hochner B.PI (2002). The ionic currents underlying fast action potentials in the

obliquely striated muscle cells of the octopus arm. J. Neurophysiol. 88:3386-3397.

3. Farchi N.S Soreq H.PI Hochner B.PI (2003). Chronic acetylcholinesterase overexpression

induces multileveled aberrations in neuromuscular physiology. J. Physiol 546:165-173

4. Hochner B.PI,C Brown E.R.PI Langella M.S Shomrat T.S Fiorito G.PI (2003) A learning

and memory area in the octopus brain manifests a vertebrate-like long-term potentiation. J.

Neurophysiol. 90:35473554.



5. Nijholt I.S Farchi N. S Kye M-J.C Sklan E.C Shoham S.PI,C Verbeure B.C Owen D.C

Hochner B.PI Spiess J.PI Soreq H.PI Blank T.PI (2004) Stress induction of fear memory

involves cholinergic facilitation of PKC-mediated hippocampal LTP. Mol Psychiatry. 9:174-

183. similar contribution of the 1st two authors

6. Dong H. S Xiang YY.S Farchi N.S Ju W.C Wu Y.C Chen L.C Wang Y.PI Hochner B.PI Yang

B.PI Soreq H.PI Lu WY.PI (2004) Excessive expression of acetylcholinesterase impairs glu-

tamatergic synaptogenesis in hippocampal neurons. J Neurosci.24:8950-8960.

7. Walker, ID.; Dawson, DM.; Flash, T; Grasso, FW.; Hanlon, RT.; Hochner, B; Kier, WM.;

Pagano, CC.; Rahn, CD.; Zhang, QM.all PIs (2005) Continuum Robot Arms Inspired by

Cephalopods in: Enhanced and Synthetic Vision. Edited by Verly, Jacques G. Proceedings

of the SPIE meeting, Volume 5804, pp. 303-314.

8. Sumbre G.S Fiorito G.PI Flash T.PI Hochner B.PI,C (2005) Neurobiology: motor control of

flexible octopus arms. Nature 433:595-596.

9. Yekutieli Y,S Sagiv-Zohar R,S Aharonov R,S Engel Y, S Hochner B ,PI Flash T.PI (2005).

A dynamic model of the octopus arm. I. Biomechanics of the octopus reaching movement.

J Neurophysiol 94: 1469-1497. issue’s cover picture, cover article by L Blackburn in J Exp

Biol

10. Yekutieli Y,S Sagiv-Zohar R,S Hochner B,PI Flash T.PI (2005). A Dynamic Model of the

Octopus Arm. II. Control of Reaching Movements. J Neurophysiol 94: 1459-1468

11. Flash T. PI Hochner B. PI (2005) Motor Primitives in Vertebrates and Invertebrates. Curr

Opin Neurobiol 15(6):660-666. (invited review)

12. Hochner BPI Shomrat T.S and Fiorito F.PI (2006) The octopus: a model for a comparative

analysis of the evolution of learning and memory mechanisms. Biol Bull-US 210: 308-317

(invited review)

13. Sumbre G.S Fiorito G.PI Flash T.PI and Hochner B.PI,C (2006) Octopuses Use a Human-

Like Strategy to Control Precise Point-To-Point Arm Movements. Current Biology 16: 767-

772. issue’s cover picture and a Dispatch by SL. Hooper



14. Gutfreund Y. S Matzner H.C Flash T.PI Hochner B.PI,C (2006) Neurophysiology of the

octopus arm nerve cord: a neuronal system dedicated to the control of flexible arm. Biol

Bull-US 211: 212-222.

15. Farchi N.S Shoham S.PI,C Hochner B.PI and Soreq H.PI (2007) Impaired hippocampal

plasticity and errors in cognitive performance in mice with maladaptive AChE splice site

selection. Eur J Neurosci 25: 87-98.

16. Farchi N,S Ofek K,S Podoly E,S Dong H, Xiang YY,S Diamant S,S Livnah O,S Li J,C

Hochner B,PI Lu WY,PI Soreq H.PI (2007) Peripheral site acetylcholinesterase blockade

induces RACK1-associated neuronal remodeling. Neurodegener Dis 4(2-3):171-184.

17. Yekutieli Y. C Mitelman R.S Hochner B.PI Flash T.PI,C Analyzing octopus movements

using three dimensional reconstruction J. Neurophysiol

18. Kuba MJ,C Zullo L,C Byrne RAC & Hochner B.PI 2006 Visual Habituation in the common

octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Geologica Acta Universitas Cariolinae. 49: 147-150

19. Kuba MJ,C Zullo L,C & Hochner B.PI 2005 Non-associative learning in Octopus vulgaris.

Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium Coleoid Cephalopods Through Time. 89-

91

20. Shomrat T, S Zarrella I, S Fiorito G, PI Hochner B. PI The Octopus Vertical Lobe Modulates

Short-Term Learning Rate and Uses LTP to Acquire Long-Term Memory Current Biology;

18:337-342

21. Hochner B (2008) Octopuses. Current Biology 18:R897. (invited review)

22. Y Yekutieli T Flash, B Hochner, Biomechanics, Hydroskeletal in New Encyclopedia of Neu-

roscience (review in press)


• Charles E. Smith Family and Prof. Joel Elkes Laboratory for Collaborative Research in

Psychobiology. 1999- , Title: Space and equipment for studying: ”mechanisms of learning

and memory in the octopus”



• Israel Sciences Foundation. 2002-2006, Total sum: $270,000 , Title: ”Central and peripheral

neural control of octopus arm movement” (together with Prof. T. Flash, the Weizmann

Institute as CI)

• United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation 2002-2006, Total sum: $140,000 Title:

(collaborator: Dr. Marc Klein UCLA)

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) USA. 2003-2006, Total sum: $282,

000/512,000 (together with Prof. T. Flash, the Weizmann Institute) Subcontract in the

project: Soft Robot Manipulators and Manipulation in the area: Biodynotics

• Israel Science Foundation (2006-2010), Total sum: $260,000 , Title: ”Central and peripheral

neural control of the octopus arm movement” (together with Prof. T. Flash, the Weizmann

Institute as CI)

• United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation 2008-2012, Total sum: $168,000 . Title:

”The neurophysiological basis of learning and memory in the octopus” (collaborator: Dr.

David L. Glanzman UCLA)

• FP7-ICT-2007. Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) 2009-2013, Total sum: 1,059,460e,

Title: ”Novel Design Principles and Technologies for a New Generation of High Dexterity

Soft- bodied Robots Inspired by the Morphology and Behaviour of the Octopus”

3.2.6 Yosef Yarom


Courses taught:

• Introduction to Neurobiology

• Topics in Neurobiology

• The Cerebellum

Personal Information: Born: June 8, 1947. Israel Married, 4 children



3.2.6.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1971, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Physiology and Biochemistry.

M.Sc. (Cum Laude)1973

Ph.D. (Cum Laude) 1978, The Hebrew University. Physiology: ”Physiological and morpho-

logical differentiation of giant axons during the development of the cockroach”.



Zohar Tal (2008)


Devor Anna (2002

Sagiv Noa (2004)

Loewenstein, Yonathan (2005)

Eidth Chorev (2006)

Gilad Jacobson (2009)


• 1985-1991 Senior Lecturer, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

• 1989-1990 Visiting Prof., New York University Medical Center

• 1991-1996 Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology,

• 1996- Professor , The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.


1. Mann-Metzer, P. and Yarom, Y. (2002) Pre- and Postsynaptic Inhibition Mediated by GABA(B)

Receptors in Cerebellar Inhibitory Interneurons. J Neurophysiol. 87(1):183-190.

2. Mann-Metzer, P. and Yarom, Y. (2002) Jittery trains induced by synaptic-like currents in

cerebellar inhibitory interneurons. J Neurophysiol. 87(1):149-56.



3. Devor, A. and Yarom, Y. (2002) Generation and Propagation of Subthreshold Waves in a

Network of Inferior Olivary Neurons. J Neurophysiol 87: 3059-3069.

4. Devor, A. and Yarom, Y. (2002) Electrotonic Coupling in the Inferior Olivary Nucleus Re-

vealed by Simultaneous Double Patch Recordings. J Neurophysiol 87: 3048-3058.

5. Yarom, Y. and Cohen, D. (2002) The Olivocerebellar System as a Generator of Temporal

Patterns Ann NY Acad Sci 978: 122-134

6. Belenky, M.A., Sagiv, N., Fritschy, J.M. and Yarom Y. (2003) Presynaptic and postsynaptic

GABAA receptors in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neuroscience. 118(4):909-23.

7. De Zeeuw, C.I., Chorev, E., Devor, A., Manor, Y., Van Deer Giessen, R.S., De Jeu, M.,

Hoogenraad, C.C., Bijman, J., Ruigrok, T.J., French, P., Jaarsma, D., Kistler, W.M., Meier,

C., Petrasch- Parwez, E., Dermietzel, R., Sohl, G., Gueldengel, M., Willecke, K. and Yarom,

Y. (2003) Deformation of network connectivity in the inferior olive of connexin 36-deficient

mice is compensated by morphological and electrophysiological changes at the single neuron

level. J Neurosci. 1;23(11):4700-11.

8. Hausser, M., Raman, I.M., Otis, T., Smith, S.L., Nelson, A., du Lac, S., Loewenstein, Y.,

Mahon, S., Pennartz, C., Cohen, I. and Yarom, Y. (2004) The Beat Goes On: Spontaneous

Firing in Mammalian Neuronal Microcircuits. J Neurosci. 24:4700-11.

9. Loewenstein, Y., Mahon, S., Chadderton, P., Kitamura, K., Sompolinsky, H., Yarom, Y. and

Hausser, M. (2005) Bistability of cerebellar Purkinje cells modulated by sensory stimulation.

Nat Neurosci. 8(2):202-11.

10. Jacobson, G.A., Diba, K., Yaron-Jakoubovitch, A., Oz, Y., Koch, C., Segev, I. and Yarom, Y.

(2005) Subthreshold voltage noise of rat neocortical pyramidal neurons. J. Physiol 564:145-

60

11. Rav-Acha, M., Sagiv, N., Segev, I., Bergman, H. and Yarom, Y. (2005) Dynamic and spatial

features of the inhibitory pallidal GABAergic synapses. Neuroscience 135(3):791-802.

12. Derchansky M, Rokni D, Rick JT, Wennberg R, Bardakjian BL, Zhang L, Yarom Y, Carlen

PL. (2006) Bidirectional multisite seizure propagation in the intact isolated hippocampus:



the multifocality of the seizure ”focus”. Neurobiol Dis. 2006 Aug;23(2):312-28.

13. Chorev, E., Manor, Y. and Yarom, Y. (2007) Density is destiny–on the relation between

quantity of T-type Ca2+ channels and neuronal electrical behavior. CNS Neurol Disord

Drug Targets. Dec;5(6):655-62.

14. Chorev, E., Yarom, Y. and Lampl, I. (2007) Rhythmic episodes of subthreshold membrane

potential oscillations in the rat inferior olive nuclei in-vivo. J. Neurosci. 27:5043-52.

15. Rotem, N., Sestieri1, E., Cohen, D., Paulin, M., Meiri, H. and Yarom, Y. (2007) The func-

tional architecture of the shark’s dorsal-octavolateral nucleus: an in vitro study. J. Exp.

Biol.

16. Rokni, D., Llinas, R. and Yarom, Y. (2007) Stars and stripes in the cerebellar cortex: A

voltage sensitive dye study. Front Syst Neuroscience Epub.

17. Belenky, M., Yarom, Y. and Pickard, G. (2008) Heterogeneous expression of γ-aminobutyric

acid and γ-aminobotyric acid-associated receptors and transporters in the rat suprachias-

matic nucleus. J. Com. Neurol. 506:708-732.

18. Rav-Acha, M., Bergman, H. and Yarom, Y. (2008) Pre- and Postsynaptic Serotoninergic

Excitation of Globus Pallidus Neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 100(2):1053-66.

19. Tal, Z., Chorev, E. and Yarom, Y. (2008) State-Dependent Modification of Complex Spike

Waveforms in the Cerebellar Cortex. Cerebellum 7(4):577-82.

20. Jacobson, G.A., Rokni, D and Yarom Y. (2008) A model of the olivo-cerebellar system as a

temporal pattern generator. Trends Neurosci. 31(12):617-25.

21. Rokni, D., Llinas, R. and Yarom, Y. (2008) The morpho/functional anomaly in the cerebellar

cortex: Looks alone are deceptive. Frontier in Neuroscience

22. Yaron-Jakoubovitch A, Jacobson GA, Koch C, Segev I, Yarom Y. (2008) A paradoxical

isopotentiality: a spatially uniform noise spectrum in neocortical pyramidal cells. Front Cell

Neuroscience Epub

23. Jacobson G A., Lev I., Yarom Y., and Cohen D. (2009) Invariant phase structure of olivo-

cerebellar oscillations and its putative role in temporal pattern generation. PNAS (in press)



24. Rokni, D. and Yarom, Y. (2009) State-dependence of climbing fiber-driven calcium tran-

sients in Purkinje cells. Neuroscience (in press)


• 2005-2008 Functional recovery from acute cerebellar damage. BMBF

• 2005-2008 A Smart Brain-Computer Hybrid System IMS for alleviating symptoms of cere-

bellar tremor

• 2006-2010 Synaptic learning rules ISF

• 2006-2010 Encapsulating the cerebellar circuit in a dish BSF


Chapter 4

The Genetic Basis of Traits

4.1 Introduction

Studying the genetic basis of traits has been for many years considered as one of the important

challenges science is facing today. The field is considered a multidisciplinary one and no single

approach has proved to enable a comprehensive solution. To tackle these complex set of ques-

tions, several tools are under development and in parallel being employed at a quite satisfactory

pace. The tools include for example comparative genomics across species (e.g. humans and

mice); bioinformatics tools, gene expression analysis, knockouts, transgenics, etc. One of the

important novel aspects that are currently being adopted is the scale and complexity of the exper-

iments. For example, it is only in the course of the last 12-18 months that entire human genomes

can be scanned at a resolution required to identify genes underlying complex traits. Similarly, it

is only recently that whole genomes of various species can be completely sequenced with great

efficiency using next-generation sequencing technologies. These advances open entirely new

avenues of research, on the one hand; and on the other hand require the continuous develop-

ment of technologies and computational tools. In addition to the high-throughput genomic tools

developed, molecular biology tools are equally progressing (e.g. miRNA, RNA processing and

other regulatory tools) allowing the study of specific proteins and networks of gene interactions

95


affecting specific traits.

At the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,

several scientists are actively working on this field. The Institute has identified this subject of

high importance and fortunately succeeded in recruiting some of the most talented young sci-

entist who have recently joint the institute. In the following pages we present a self description

of four scientists working in our Institute in this field. The four scientists represent the spirit of

integration across generations that exist in our Institute.


4.2.1 Hermona Soreq

Academic Rank: (Full Tenured) Professor

Courses taught:

• 2004 - Molecular neuroscience lectures to Computational Neuroscience PhD students

• 2002 2004 ETGAR honors students in Life Sciences (tutorial)

• 1999 2004 Selected Topics in Life Sciences Research, 1st year Biology undergraduates.

Personal Information: Born: 3 April 1947, Tel-Aviv, Israel Married, 3 children

4.2.1.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1967, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biochemistry and Microbiology.

M.Sc. 1970, Tel Aviv University: Biochemistry.

Ph.D. 1976, The Weizmann Institute of Science: Biochemistry, Life Sciences. Advisor: Prof.

Uri Littauer. Thesis: ”Structure and Functions of Regions in mRNA as Probed by Purified

Polynucleotide Phosphorylase”.

PostDoctoral Studies 1979, Rockefeller University, NYC Molecular Biology





Daniel Albahari (2002) ”Interrelationships between Presenilins and Acetylcholinesterase neu-

ronal gene expression”.

Boris Bryk (2004) ”Inherited and Acquired Interactions between ACHE and PON1 Polymor-

phisms Modulate Plasma Acetylcholinesterase and Paraoxonase Activities”.

Ran Avni (2007) ”MicroRNAs Act as Mediators in the Cholinergic Brain-Body Communica-

tion”.

Tal Bruck


Eran Meshorer (2003) ”Long-lasting stress-induced modulations in neuronal alternative splic-

ing”.

1Osnat Cohen DVM (2004) ”Transgenic Dissection of Acetylcholinesterase Contributions to-

ward the Cholinergic Regulation of Mammalian Behaviour”.

2Noa Farchi (2004) Functions of Acetylcholinesterase Alternative Splicing at the Neuromus-

cular Junction: Applications for Transgenic Engineering”

3Chava Perry MD (2004) ”Molecular mechanisms Underlying Acetylcholinesterase-Associated

Tumorogenesis”.

3Marjorie Pick (2004) ”Hematopoietic roles of acetylcholinesterase and its variant C-terminal

peptides”.

Ella Sklan (2004) ”Alternative splicing contributions to the behavioral implications of imbal-

anced cholinergic neurotransmission”.

Irit Shapira (2005)

Tama Evron (2007) ”Neuromuscular Consequences of Gain and Loss of Acetylcholinesterase

Functioning”.

4Rinat Kahat MD (2007) -

Inbal Mor (2007) ”Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Stress-Induced Male Germ-

Cell Selection”.



Asher Salmon MD (2007) ”Genetic Engineering Approaches into Cholinesterase Interactions

with Xenobiotic Agents”.

Deborah Toiber (2008) ”Alternative Splicing as a regulatory mechanism in brain functioning”

Ari Meerson (2008) ”Stress induced changes in microRNA and alternative splicing configu-

rations in brain and blood cells”

Erez Podoly (2008) ”Exploring the Role of Disordered Regions in structural Transitions As-

sociated with Intracellular Signaling”

1Joint supervision with Raz Yirmiya

2Joint supervision with Benny Hochner

3Joint supervision with Amiram Eldor

4Joint supervision with Ido Perlman


• 2005 - 2008 Elected Dean, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Hebrew Uni-

versity

• 2005-2007 Non-Resident Research Professor, The Bio-Design Institute, Arizona State Uni-

versity

• 2002 - 2005 Vice Dean for R & D, Faculty of Mathematics Natural Sciences, The Hebrew

University

• 2000 - 2005 Head, The Eric Roland Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Hebrew

University


1. Flores-Flores, C., Nissim, A., Shochat, S. and Soreq, H. (2002) Phage display selection

and characterization of myc-tagged humanized monoclonal antibodies to synaptic acetyl-

cholinesterase. J Neural Transm Suppl., 62, 165-179.



2. Shapira, M., Grant, A., Korner, M., and Soreq, H. (2002) Human acetylcholinesterase gene

expression is controlled by an exceptionally long stress-responding promoter. I. J. Psychiatry

and Behavioral Sciences, in press.

3. Cohen, O., Erb, C., Ginzberg, D., Pollak, Y., Shohami, S., Seidman, S., Soreq, H., and

Yirmiya, R. (2002). Overexpression of ”readthrough” acetylcholinesterase is associated with

antisense suppressible behavioral impairments. Mol. Psych. 7, 874885.

4. Svedberg, M.M., Svensson, A.-L., Johnson, M., Lee, M., Cohen, O., Court, J., Soreq, H.,

Perry, E. and Nordberg, A. (2002). Upregulation of neuronal nicotinic receptor subunits 4, 2

and 7 in transgenic mice overexpressing human acetylcholinesterase. J. Mol. Neurosc., 18,

211-222.

5. Deutsch, V.R., Pick, M., Grisaru, D., Perry, C., Hemo, Y., Golan-Hadari, D., Grant, A.,

Eldor, A. and Soreq, H. (2002). The acetylcholinesterase variant AChE-R is expressed in

human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors, and its C-terminal peptide ARP promotes their

proliferation. Experimental Haematology, 30, 1153-1161.

6. Darreh-Shori, T., Almkvist, O., Guan, Z.Z., Garlind, A. Strandberg, B., Svensson, A.-L.,

Soreq, H., HellstrmLindahl, E. and Nordberg A. (2002). Sustained cholinesterase inhibition

in AD patients receiving rivastigmine for 12 months. Neurology, 59, 563-572.

7. Perry, C., Sklan, E., Birikh, K., Shapira, M., Trejo, L., Eldor, A. and Soreq, H. (2002). Com-

plex regulation of acetylcholinesterase gene expression in human brain tumors. Oncogene,

21, 8428- 8441.

8. Brenner, T. Hamra, Y., Evron, T., Boneva, N., Seidman, S. and Soreq, H. (2003). The role

of readthrough acetylcholinesterase in the pathophysiology of myasthenia gravis. FASEB

J., 17, 214- 222.

9. Stoilov, P., Meshorer, E., Gencheva, M., Glick, D., Soreq., H. and Stamm, S. (2003). Defects

in pre-mRNA processing as causes of and predisposition to diseases. DNA and Cell Biol.,

18, 803- 818.

10. Farchi, N., Soreq, H. and Hochner, B. (2003). Chronic acetylcholinesterase overexpression



induces multileveled aberrations in neuromuscular physiology. J. Physiol., 546.1, 165-173.

11. Rees, T., Hammond, P. I., Soreq, H., Younkin, S.and Brimijoin. S. (2003) Acetylcholinesterase

promotes beta-amyloid plaques in cerebral cortex. Neurobiology of Aging, 5810, 1-11.

12. Birikh, K., Sklan, E., Shoham, S. and Soreq, H. (2003). Interaction of ”Readthrough” acetyl-

cholinesterase with RACK1 and PKCII correlates with intensified fear induced conflict be-

havior. PNAS, 100, 283-288.

13. Cohen, O., Reichenberg, A., Perry, C., Ginzberg, D., PollmŁcher, T., Soreq, H. and Yirmiya,

R. (2003). Endotoxin-induced changes in human working and declarative memory are asso-

ciated with C - terminal cleavage of plasma ”readthrough” acetylcholinesterase. J. Molec.

Neurosci., 21, 199- 212.

14. Nijholt, I., Farchi, N., Kye, M.-J., Sklan, E., Shoham, S., Verbeurre, B., Owen D., Hochner,

B., Spiess, J., Soreq, H. and Blank., T. (2004). Stress-induced alternative splicing modu-

lation of acetylcholinesterase results in enhamced fear memory and long-term-potentiation.

Mol. Psych., 9, 174-183.

15. Darreh-Shori, T., Hellstrm-Lindahl, E., Flores-Flores, C, Guan, Z., Soreq, H. And Nordberg,

A. (2004). Long-lasting acetylcholinesterase splice variations in anticholinesterase-treated

Alzheimer’s disease patients. J. Neurochem., 88:1102-1113.

16. Perry, C. Sklan E.H. and Soreq, H. (2004). CREB regulates AChE-R-induced proliferation

of human glioblastoma cells. Neoplasia, 6, 279-286.

17. Sklan, E.H, Lowenthal, A., Korner, M., Ritov, Y., Rankinen, T., Bouchard, C., Leon, A.S.,

Rao, D.C., Wilmore, J.H., Skinner, J.S. and Soreq, H. (2004). Acetylcholinesterase/paraoxon-

ase genotype and expression predict anxiety scores in Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Train-

ing, and Genetics study. PNAS, 101, 5512-5517.

18. Meshorer, E., Toiber, D., Zurel, D., Dori, A., Sahly, I., Cagnano, E., Grisaru, D., Tronche,

F. and Soreq, H. (2004) Combinatorial Complexity of 5’ Alternative ACHE Transcripts and

Protein Products. J. Biol. Chem., 279, 29740-29751.

19. Fletcher, S.P., Geyer, B.C. Smith, A., Evron, T., Joshi, L., Soreq, H. and Mor, T.S (2004).



Tissue Distribution of Cholinesterases and Anticholinesterases in Tomato Plants. Plant

Molecular Biology, 55, 33-44.

20. Perry, C. and Soreq, H. (2004). Organophosphate risk of leukemogenesis. Leuk Res. 28,

905-906.

21. Dori, A., Cohen J., Silverman, W.F., Pollack, Y. and Soreq H. (2005). Functional Manipu-

lations of Acetylcholinesterase Splice Variants Highlight Alternative Splicing Contributions

to Murine Neocortical Development. Cerebral Cortex, 15, 419-430.

22. Dong, H, Xiang, Y.-Y., Farchi, N., Ju, W., Wu, Y., Chen, L., Wang, Y., Hochner, B., Yang, B.,

Soreq, H. and Lu, W.-Y. (2004). Excess acetylcholinesterase impairs glutamatergic synap-

togenesis in hippocampal neurons. J. Neurosci, 24, 8950-8960.

23. Pick, M., Flores-Flores, C., Grisaru, D. Shochat, S., Deutsch, V. and Soreq, H. (2004).

Blood cells- specific acetylcholinesterase splice variations under changing stimuli. Intl. J.

Dev. Neurosci., 22, 523-531.

24. Ben-Shaul, Y. Bergman, H. and Soreq, H. (2005) Identifying Subtle Interrelated Changes in

Functional Gene Categories using Continuous Measures of Gene. Bioinformatics, 21(7):1129-

1137.

25. Stamm, S., Ben-Ari, S., Rafalska, I., Yesheng-Teng, Zhayi-Zhang, Debora Toiber, D., Tha-

naraj, A. and Soreq, H. (2005). Function of alternative splicing. Gene, 344, 1-20.

26. Bryk, B., BenMoyal-Segal, L., Podoly, E., Livnah, O., Eisenkraft, A., Luria, S., Cohen, A.,

Yehezkelli, Y., Hourvitz, A. and Soreq, H. (2005). Inherited and acquired interactions be-

tween ACHE and PON1 polymorphisms modulate plasma acetylcholinesterase and paraox-

onase activities. J. Neurochem., 92, 1216-1227.

27. BenMoyal-Segal, L., Vander, T., Shifman, S., Herishanu, Y., Bryk, B., Ebstein, R., Marcus,

E., Schtassman, J., Darvasi, A., Herishanu, Y., Friedman, A. and Soreq, H. (2005). Acetyl-

cholinesterase/Paraoxonase interactions increase the risk of insecticide-induced Parkinson’s

disease. FASEB J., 19, 452-454.

28. Rees, T.M., Berson, A., Sklan, E.H, Younkin, L., Younkin, S., Brimijoin, and Soreq, H.



(2005). Memory deficits correlating with acetylcholinesterase splice shift and amyloid bur-

den in doubly transgenic mice. Current Alzheimer Research, 2, 291-300.

29. Meshorer, E., Biton, I., Ben-Shaul, Y., Ben-Ari, S., Assaf, Y., Soreq, H. and Cohen, Y.(2005).

Chronic cholinergic imbalances promote brain diffusion and transport abnormalities. FASEB

J., 19, 910-922.

30. Pollak, Y., Gilboa, A., Ben-Menachem, O., Ben-Hur, T., Soreq, H. And Yirmiya, R. (2005)

Acetylcholinesterase modulates interleukin-1 production in the hippocampus and blood.

Ann. Neurol. 57, 741-745.

31. Evron, T., Ben-Moyal L., Lam, N., Gilboa-Geffen, A. and Soreq, H. (2005). RNA-targetted

suppression of stress-induced allostasis in monkey spinal cord neurons. Neurodegenerative

Diseases, 2, 16-27.

32. Salmon, A., Erb, C., Meshorer, E., Ginzberg, D., Adani, Y., Rabinovitz, I., Amitai, G.

and Soreq, H. (2005). Muscarinic modulations of neuronal anti-cholinesterase responses.

Chemico-Biological Interactions, 157-158, 105-113.

33. Meshorer, E., Bryk, B., Toiber, D., Cohen, J., Dori, A. and Soreq H. (2005). SC35 promotes

sustainable stress-induced alternative splicing of neuronal acetylcholinesterase mRNA. Mol.

Psych., 10, 985-997, Lilly Award.

34. Dori, A. and Soreq, H. (2006). ARP, the cleavable C-terminal peptide of ”readthrough”

acetylcholinesterase, promotes neuronal development and plasticity. J. Mole. Neurosc., 28,

247- 256, special issue.

35. Guimaraes-Sternberg, C., Meerson, A., Shaked, I. and Soreq, H. (2006). MicroRNA modu-

lation of megakaryoblast fate involves cholinergic signaling. Leuk.. Res., 30, 583-595.

36. Toiber, D and Soreq, H. (2005) Cellular stress reactions as putative cholinergic links in

Alzheimer’s disease. Neurochem. Res. 30, 909-919.

37. Geyer, B.C., Muralidharan, M., Cherni, I., Doran, J., Fletcher, S.P., Evron, T., Soreq, H. and

Mor, T.S. (2005). Purification of transgenic plant-derived recombinant human acetylcholin-

esterase-R. Chem. Biol. Interact. 157-158, 331-334.



38. Ben-Ari, S., Toiber, D., Soreq, H. and Ben-Shaul, Y. (2006) Modulated splicing associated

gene expression in p19 cells expressing distinct acetylcholinesterase splice variants. JNC,

97, 24-34 Suppl.

39. Pick, M., Perry, C., Grisaru, D., Lapidot, Z., Naparstek, E., Deutsch, V. and Soreq, H. (2006).

Stress-induced cholinergic signaling promotes inflammation-associated thrombopoiesis. Bl-

ood, 107, 3397-3406. Accompanied by Comment: ”From brain to blood”, Zander, A.R. and

Boris Fehse, B. (2006) Blood, 107, 3023-3024. [No. 4 in the Hidden Jewels Top 10 Cell

Biology F1000 Factor 9.0 Exceptional 21.04.06 www.f1000biology.com/article/16380450/

evaluation]

40. Grisaru, D., Pick, M., Perry, C., Sklan, E.H., Almog, R., Goldberg, I., Naparstek, E., Less-

ing, J.B., Soreq H. and Deutsch, V, (2006). Hydrolytic and non-enzymatic functions of

acetylcholinesterase co-modulate hematopoietic stress responses. J. Immunol, 176, 27-35.

41. Sklan, E.H., Podoly, E. and Soreq, H. (2006) RACK1 has the nerve to act: Structure meets

function in the nervous system. Prog. Neurobiol; 78, 117-134.

42. Meshorer, E. and Soreq, H. (2006) Virtues and woes of AChE alternative splicing in stress-

related neuropathologies. Trends in Neurosci., 29, 216-224.

43. Browne, R.O., Ben-Moyal-Segal, L., Bryk, B., David, J., Kofman, O., Berger, A., Soreq, H.

and Friedman, A. (2006). Coding region paraoxonase polymorphisms dictate accentuated

neurophysiological responses to chronic, subacute insecticide exposure. FASEB, 20, 1733-

1735.

44. Ben-Shaul, Y, BenMoyal-Segal, L., Ben-Ari, S., Bergman, H. and Soreq, H. (2006). Adap-

tive acetylcholinesterase splicing patterns attenuate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-

pyridine- induced Parkinsonism in mice. EJNS, 23, 2915-2922.

45. BenMoyal-Segal, L. and Soreq, H. (2006). Gene-environment interactions in sporadic Parkin-

son’s Disease. J. Neurochem., 97, 1740-1755.

46. Diamant, S., Podoly, E., Friedler, A., Livnah, O. and Soreq, H. (2006). Butyrylcholinesterase

Attenuates Amyloid Fibril Formation in vitro. PNAS, 103, 8628-8633.



47. Sklan, E.H., Berson, A., Birikh, K., Gutnick, A., Shahar, O., Shoham, S. and Soreq, H.

(2006). Acetylcholinesterase modulates stress-induced motor responses through catalytic

and non-catalytic properties. Biological Psychiatry, 60, 741-51.

48. Zimmerman, G. and Soreq, H. (2006). Termination and beyond: Acetylcholinesterase as

modulator of synaptic transmission. Cell & Tissue Research, Review, 326, 655-669.

49. Evron, T., Greenberg, D., Geyer B.C., Mor, T.S. and Soreq, H. (2006). Adaptive changes in

acetylcholinesterase gene expression as mediators of recovery from chemical and biological

insults. Toxicology, 233, 97-107.

50. Farchi, N., Ofek, K., Podoly, E., Dong, H., Xiang, Y.-Y., Diamant, S., Livnah, O., Hochner,

B., Lu, W.-Y. and Soreq, H. (2007). Peripheral site acetylcholinesterase blockade induces

RACK-1 associated neuronal modeling. Neurodegen. Dis, 4, 171-184.

51. Farchi, N., Shoham, S., Hochner, B., and Soreq, H. (2007). Impaired hippocampal plasticity

and errors in cognitive performance in mice with maladaptive neuronal splice site selection.

EJN, 25, 87-98.

52. Gilboa-Gefen, A., Lacoste P., Soreq, L. Truffault, F., Soreq, H. and Berrih-Aknin, S. (2007).

The thymic theme of acetylcholinesterase splice variants in myasthenia gravis .Blood, 109,

4383-4391.

53. Kehat, R., Zemel, E., Cuenca, N., Evron, T., Toiber, D., Loewenstein, A., Soreq, H. and Perl-

man, I. (2007). A novel isoform of acetylcholinesterase exacerbates photoreceptors death

following photic stress. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 48, 1290-1297.

54. Dori, A, Saar, T., Ifergane, G., Soreq, H. and Wirguin, Y. (2007) Readthrough acetyl-

cholinesterase in inflammation associated neuropathologies. Life Sciences, Special issue

Proceedings from the 2nd Symposium on Non-neuronal Acetylcholine, 80, 2369-2374.

55. Perry, C., Pick M., Podoly, E., Gilboa, A., Zimmerman, G., Sklan, E.H., Ben-Shaul, Y.,

Diamant, S. and Soreq, H. (2007). Acetylcholinesterase/C terminal binding protein links

modify Ikaros functions, causing T lymphopenia. Leukemia, 21, 1472-1480.

56. Evron, T., Geyer, B.C., Cherni, I., Muralidharan, M., Kilbourne, J., Fletcher, S.P., Soreq,



H. and Mor, T.S. (2007). Plant-derived human AChE-R provides protection from lethal

organophosphate poisoning and its chronic aftermath. FASEB J, 21, 2961-2969..

57. Argov, Z., McKee, D., Agus, S., Brawer, S., Shlomowitz, N., Ben Yoseph, O., Soreq, H. and

Sussman, J.D. (2007). Treatment of human myasthenia with oral antisense suppression of

acetylcholinesterase. Neurology, 69, 699-700.

58. Ofek, K,. Krabbe, K.S., Shaked, I., Devecco, M., Nielsen, A.R, Brunnsgaard, H., Yirmiya,

R., Soreq, H. and Pedersen, B.K. (2007). Cholinergic Status modulations in human volun-

teers under Acute Inflammation. J. Mol. Med, 85, 1432-1440.

59. Geyer, B.C., Fletcher, S.P.,. Griffin, T.A., Soreq, H. and Mor, T.S. (2007). Translational Con-

trol of Recombinant Human Acetylcholinesterase Accumulation in Plants. BioMed Central,

7, 27, 14 pp. .

60. Concato, J., Aslan, Mihaela, Palmisano, M., Doebbeling, C.C., Peduzzi, P., Ofek, K., Soreq,

H., and Doebbling, B. (2007). Neural pathways, stress and symptoms among veterans of the

First Gulf War. J Investig Med, 55, 360-367.

61. Shapira-Lichter, I., Beilin, B., Ofek, K., Bessler, H., Ballas, M., Shavit, Y., Seror, D.

Grinevich, G., Posner, E. Soreq, H. and Yirmiya, R. (2008). Cytokines and cholinergic

signals co-modulate surgery stress-induced changes in mood and memory. Brain, Behavior

and Immunity, 22, 388-398.

62. Cohen J. E., Zimmerman G., Friedman A., Dori A. and Soreq H. (2008) Transgenic inac-

tivation of Acetylcholinesterase impairs homeostasis in mouse hippocampal granule cells.

Hippocampus, 8, 182-192.

63. Berson, A., Knobloch, M., Diamant, S., Sharoni, M., Schuppli, D., Geyer, B., Ravid, R.,

Mor, T., Nitsch, R. and Soreq, H. (2008). Changes in Readthrough Acetylcholinesterase

Expression Modulate Amyloid-Beta Pathology. Brain, 131, 109-119 .

64. Podoly, E., Bruck, T., Diamant, S., Melamed-Book, N., Weiss,, A., Huang, Y., Livnah, O.,

Langermann S., Wilgus, H. and Soreq H. (2008) Human Recombinant Butyrylcholinesterase

Purified From the Milk of Transgenic Goats Suppresses Amyloid Beta Fibrils Formation in



Vitro. Neurodegen Dis, 5, 232-236..

65. Sussman, J.D., Argov, Z., McKee, D., Hazum, E., Brawer, S. and Soreq, H.. (2008) Anti-

sense Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis: Experience with Monarsen. Ann N Y Acad Sci.,

1132, 283-90.

66. Mor, I., Sklan, E.H., Podoly, E., Pick, M., Kirschner, M., Yogev, L., Bar-Sheshet Itach, S.,

Diamant, S., Schreiber, L., Mor, T., Grisaru, D. and Soreq, H. (2008). Acetylcholinesterase-

R increases germ cell apoptosis but enhances sperm motility. Journal of Cellular and Molec-

ular Medicine, 12, 479-495. (Cover Illustration)

67. Zimmerman, G., Ivens, S., Behrens, C., Toner, E., Njunting, M., Gross, M., Soreq, H.,

Heinemann, U. and Alon Friedman, A. (2008) Acetylcholine-induced seizure-like activity

and modified cholinergic gene expression in chronically epileptic rats. Eur. J. Neurosci., 27,

:965-975

68. Adamec R, Head D, Soreq H, Blundell J. (2008) The Role of the Read Through Variant of

Acetylcholinesterase in Anxiogenic Effects of Predator Stress in Mice. Behavi. Brain Res.,

189, 180-190.

69. Soreq, L., Gilboa-Geffen, A., Berrih-Aknin, S., Lacoste, P., Darvasi, A., Soreq, E., Bergman,

H. and Soreq, H. (2008) Identifying Alternative Hyper-Splicing Signatures in MG-Thymoma

by Exon Arrays. PLoS ONE. 3, (6):e2392.

70. Mor, I., Bruck, T., Greenberg, D., Berson, A. Grisaru, D. and Soreq, H. (2008). Alter-

nate AChE-R variants facilitate cellular metabolic activity and resistance to genotoxic stress

through enolase and RACK1 interactions. Chemico-Biol Interact., in press.

71. Soreq, L.T., Israel, Z., Bergman, H. and Soreq, H. (2008) Advanced Microarray Analysis

highlights modified neuro-immune signaling in nucleated blood cells from Parkinson’s dis-

ease patients. J Neuroimmunol., Special Issue in honour of John Newsom-Davis 201-202,

227-36.

72. Toiber, D., Berson, A., Greenberg, D., Melamed-Book, N., Diamant, S. and Soreq, H. (2008)

N- Acetylcholinesterase-induced apoptosis in Alzheimer’s disease. PLoS ONE, 3 (9):e3108.



73. Salas, R., Main, A., Gangitano, D.A., Zimmerman, G., Ben-Ari, S., Soreq, H and De Biasi,

M (2008) Nicotine relieves anxiogenic-like behavior in Acetylcholinesterase-R overexpress-

ing mice but not in wild-type mice. Mol Pharm, in press.

74. Karni, S., Soreq, H. and Sharan, R. A Protein - Protein Interaction - Based Method for

Profiling Disease Causing Alterations in the Pathway of Gene Expression. J. Comp Biol, in

press.

4.2.1.5 Reviews and Book Chapters

1. Lev-Lehman, E., Seidman, S., Ginzberg, D. and Soreq, H. (2002) Antisense oligomers in

vitro and in vivo. In press in: Antisense Therapeutics, A. Cohen and S. Smicek, Eds. Plenum

Press.

2. Glick, D., Shapira, M., and Soreq, H. (2002). Molecular neurotoxicology implications of

acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In: Site-Selective Neurotoxicology, D. S. Lester, W. Slikker,

Jr. and P. Lazarovici, Eds. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 116-133.

3. Soreq, H. and Glick, D. (2002). Novel roles for cholinesterases in stress and inhibitor re-

sponses. Ezio Giacobini (Ed.) In: Cholinesterases and cholinesterase inhibitors: basic,

preclinical and clinical aspects. Martin Dunitz Ltd. pp. 47-61.

4. Soreq, H., Kaufer, D., Friedman, A. and Glick, D. (2002) Blood-Brain Barrier modulations

and low-level exposure to Xenobiotics. In: ”Chemical Warfare Agents: Low Level Toxic-

ity”. S. M. Somani and J. A. Romano, Eds. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL pp. 121-144.

5. Soreq, H. and Glick, D. (2002) Acetylcholinesterase. In: The Encyclopedia of Molecular

Medicine.Thomas E. Creighton, Ed. Wiley pp. 14-16.

6. Soreq, H., Kaufer, D., Glick, D. and Friedman, A. (2002). The molecular biology of Blood

Brain Barrier disruption under stress. In: Brain Disease: Therapeutic Strategies and Repair.

O. Abramsky, D. Alastair, A. Miller and G. Said, Eds. Martin Dunitz, Publishers, pp.231-

238.

7. Meshorer, E. and Soreq, H. (2002) Antisense Intervention with Cholinergic Impairment As-



sociated with Neurodegenerative Disease. Mapping the Progress of Alzheimer’s and Parkin-

son’s Disease. Y. Mizuno, A. Fisher, I. Hanin, Eds. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publisher.

pp. 45-48.

8. Perry, C. and Soreq, H. (2002). Runx1/AML1 in leukemia: disrupted association with di-

verse protein partners. Leukemia Research, 26, 221-228.

9. Perry, C. and Soreq, H. (2002). Transcriptional regulation of erythropoiesis: fine tuning of

combinatorial multi-domain elements. EJB, 269, 36073618. 10*. Meshorer, E. and Soreq,

H. (2002) Pre-mRNA splicing modulations in senescence. Aging Cell, 1, 10-16.

10. Cohen, O., Meshorer, E., Friedman, A., Ginzberg, D. Glick, D., Yirmiya, R. and Soreq,

H. (2002) Anticholinesterase intensification and antisense suppression of molecular genetic

impairments in cholinergic homeostasis. (US Army)

11. Glick, D., Ben Moyal, L. and Soreq, H. (2003) Genetic variation in butyrylcholinesterase

and the physiological consequences for acetylcholinesterase function. In: Giacobini, E.

(ed.) Butyrylcholinesterase: Function and Inhibition, Martin Dunitz , London, pp.55-67.

12. Soreq, H. Meshorer, E., Cohen, O., Yirmiya, R., Ginzberg, D. and Glick, D. (2004). The

molecular neurobiology of acetylcholinesterase variants: from stressful insults to antisense

intervention. In: Silman, I., Fisher, A., Anglister, L. Michaelson, D. and Soreq, H. (eds.)

Cholinergic Mechanisms, Martin Dunitz , London, pp.119-124.

13. Evron, T. and Soreq, H. (2004) Transgenic manipulations of neuromuscular junction main-

tenance. In: Silman, I., Fisher, A., Anglister, L. Michaelson, D. and Soreq, H. (eds.) Cholin-

ergic Mechanisms, Martin Dunitz , London, pp. 567-569.

14. Sklan, E.H., Birikh, K. and Soreq H. (2004) Two hybrid approach to the intracellular func-

tion(s) of readthrough acetylcholinesterase. In: Silman, I., Fisher, A., Anglister, L. Michael-

son, D. and Soreq, H. (eds.) Cholinergic Mechanisms, Martin Dunitz , London, pp. 707-709.

15. Shoham, S., Kovalev, E., Sklan, E. and Soreq, H. (2004). Readthrough acetylcholinesterase

and cholinergic transmission. In Silman, I., Fisher, A., Anglister, L. Michaelson, D. and

Soreq, H. (eds.) Cholinergic Mechanisms, Martin Dunitz , London, pp. 697-700.



16. Glick, D. and Soreq. H. (2003). Ethics, Public Policy and Behavioral Genetics. IMAJ 5:

February: 83-86.

17. Mor, T.S. and Soreq, H. (2004). Human cholinesterases from plants for detoxification. In:

Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science, Goodman R.M. (ed); (Joshi L.section ed.), Marcel

Dekker, New York. pp. 564-567.

18. Pick, M., Flores-Flores, C. and Soreq H. (2004). From brain to blood: Alternative splicing

evidence for the cholinergic basis of mammalian stress responses. In Pacak K., Aguilera G.,

Sabban E.L., Kvetnansky R. (eds.) Stress: Neuroendocrine and Generic Approaches, Vol.

1018 pp. 85-98, Ann. NY Acad. Sci., N.Y. Annals Review. Online, www.annalsnyas.org.

19. Sklan E.H., Shoham S. and Soreq H. (2004) Interaction of ”Readthrough” Acetylcholin-

esterase with the PKC Scaffold Protein Rack1 Facilitates Antisense-Suppressible Contextual

Fear Responses. In: Inestrosa, N.C. and Campos, E.O. (eds.), Cholinesterases in the Second

Millennium: Molecular and Pathological Aspects P. Univ. Catlica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,

pp 65-74.

20. Ben-Shaul, Y., Bergman, H. and Soreq, H. (2005) AChE and Parkinson’s disease. Recent

Progress in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, Hanin I, Cacabelos R, Fisher A, editors.

London and New York: Taylor & Francis; pp.33-44.

21. Soreq, H., Yirmiya, R., Cohen, O. and Glick, D. (2005). Acetylcholinesterase as a window

onto stress responses. Handbook on Stress in the Brain Part 1, Neurobiology and Stress.

Elsevier Science, Amsterdam. Eds Steckler, Kalin and Reul Vol. 1, pp. 585-608.

22. Meshorer, E. and Soreq, H. (2005). mRNA modulations in stress and aging. In: Abel Lajtha

(ed.) Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Volume 7, Kluwer, New

York. pp.585-608.

23. Shaked, I. and Soreq, H. (2006) Studying cholinergic features by transgenic manipulations of

AChE gene expression. The Brain Cholinergic System in Health and Disease E. Giacobini,

G. Pepeu, Eds. Informa Healthcare, London. pp 125-140.

24. Soreq, H. (2007). Gulf War Syndrome, Psychological and Chemical Stressors. In Ency-



clopedia of Stress - 2nd Edition, Editor-in-Chief George Fink, Elsevier. Academic Press,

Oxford. pp. 248-254.

25. Dori, A. and Soreq H. (2006) Neuromuscular Therapeutics by RNA-targeted Suppression of

ACHE Gene Expression. NY Academy of Science, 1082, 77-90.

26. Zimmerman, G. and Soreq, G. (2006) ”Readthrough” Acetylcholinesterase: A Multifaceted

Inducer of Stress Reactions. J Mol Neurosci., 30, 197-200.

27. Soreq, H and Honigman, A. (2007). It is all about resolution. Meeting review. FEBS

Journal, 274, 924-927 (cover).

28. Soreq, H. (2007). Caught between the need to publish and the requirement to conceal. In:

Landau, R and Shefler, G. (ed.s) Research Ethics, Magnes Press, Jerusalem, pp. 97-111

(Hebrew).

29. Soreq, H. and Podoly, E. Cholinesterases. Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology, 2nd

Edition, Eds. Offermanns, S. and Rosenthal, W. Springer-Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg. In

press.

30. Podoly, E., Diamant, S., Friedler, A., Livnah, O. and Soreq, H. (2008) Long-term neuropro-

tection by Butyrylcholinesterase and its C-terminal peptide Confer In Vitro Suppression of

Amyloid Fibril Formation. 2nd Edition of ”Chemical Warfare Agents: Chemistry Pharma-

cology, Toxicology and Therapeutics. Ed B. Lukey, S. M. Somani and J. A. Romano, Eds.

CRC Press, Boca Raton. pp. 203-218.

31. Zimmerman, G. and Soreq, H. (2007) Remembering Trauma: The role of acetylcholinesterase

in the formation of fear memories. In D. Mendels (ed.) On memory: An interdisciplinary

approach, Peter Lang (publ) Oxford, pp.319-329.

32. Soreq, H. (2008) Cholinesterases, from molecular complexity to non-hydrolytic functions.

Preface to Minireview Series. FEBS 275, 603 (Cover illustration).

33. Soreq, H. and Gazit, E. (2008) The Structural Basis of Amyloid Formation.(Editorial) Cur.

Alzheimer Res., 5, 232.

34. Diamant, S., Podoly, E., Bruck, T., Langermann S., Wilgus, H. and Soreq H. (2008) The



Helical C-terminal domain of human Butyrylcholinesterase attenuates Amyloid fibrils in

vitro formation. In New Trends in Alzheimer and Parkinson Related Disorders: ADPD

2007 Conference Proceedings. Hanin I., Windisch M., Poewe W., Fisher A. Eds.:Medimond,

Bologna pp. 85-89.

35. Shaked, I., Zimmerman, G. and Soreq, H. (2008) Stress-induced Alternative Splicing Mod-

ulations in Brain and Periphery: Acetylcholinesterase as a Case Study. In Ann N Y Acad

Sci, 1148, 269-281.

36. Geyer, B., Evron, T. Mor, T. and Soreq, H. Organophosphate intoxication: A signal trans-

duction view. Ramesh Gupta, Editor In press in: Handbook of the Toxicology of Chemical

Warfare Agents. Elsevier, Publ.


• ”The molecular and cellular biology of long-term stress responses”: Israel Science Founda-

tion $220,000: 9/02-8/06

• ”Checks and balances in cholinergic effects on hematopoiesis”: Binational Science Fund

$152,000. 10/04-9/08

• ”Neurogenomics”: MOST: 234,60000 NIS: 12/04-11/07

• ”Identifying responders to anti-inflammatory treatment”: Nophar (MOST): $ 90,000: 3/07-

3/08

• ”Biodisc - Various studies in Biochemistry”: German Ministry of Science (BMDF):e133,000:

7/05-6/08

• ”Healing Mechanisms”: BMDF: e28,500: 7/05-6/08

• ”An Integrated Experimental-Computational Approach for Identifying Erythropoietic Path-

ways in Benign and Leukemic Cells”: MOST: 207,000 NIS: 12/05-11/08

• ”Valapodyn”: EU-STREP: e330,000: 10/06-9/09

• ”Novel Tunes”: EU-STREP: e390,000: 11/06-10/09

• ”Alternative pre-mRNA splicing of ion channels”: DIP: e126,000: 1/05-12/09



• ”European Alternative Splicing Network of Excellence-EURASNET”: EC- NOE:e160,000:

1/06-31/12/10

• ”AChE variants and Apoptosis”: ISF: NIS 776,000: 11/07-10/11

• ”ISF Neurodegeneration”: ISF: $85,000

• ”Yissumit”: HUJI: $ 25,000

4.2.2 Ariel Darvasi


Courses taught: Introduction to Statistics, Genetics of complex traits

Personal Information: Born: 17 February 1962, Santiago, Chile Married, 3 children

4.2.2.1 Education:

B.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1988, The Hebrew University: Biology, Computer Sciences

M.Sc. (Cum Laude) 1990 The Hebrew University: Genetics

Ph.D. (Summa Cum Laude) 1995, The Hebrew University: Genetics, Life Sciences. Advisor:

Prof. M. Soller Thesis: ”The theoretical basis of QTL mapping”.



Tami Mendelbaum (2002)

Anat Horowitz (2003)

Amit Gilad (2004)

Adi Woltz (2005)

Michal Arbilly (2005)

Chagai Shpigler (2007)

Erez Shabo (2008)

Mor Hamami (2008)




Sagiv Shifman (2004)

Ester Inbar (2005)


• 2003-present Associate Professor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

• 1999-2003 Senior Lecturer, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.


1. Segman RH, Meltzer A, Gross-Tsur V, Kosov A, Frisch A, Inbar E, Darvasi A, Levy S,

Goltser T, Weizman A, Galili-Weisstub E (2002): Preferential transmission of interleukin-1

receptor antagonist alleles in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mol Psychiatry 7:72-74

2. McGinnis R, Shifman S, Darvasi A (2002) Power and efficiency of the TDT and the Case-

control design for association scans. Behavior Genetics 32:135-144

3. Zak N, Shifman S, Shalom A, Darvasi A (2002) Genetic dissection of complex diseases.

IMAJ 4:438-443

4. Inbar E, Benjamin Y, Darvasi A (2002) An efficient haplotyping method with DNA pools.

Nucl. Acids Res. 30:e76

5. Darvasi A, Pisant-Shalom A (2002) Complexities in the genetic dissection of quantitative

trait loci. Trends in Genetics 18:489-491

6. Shifman S, Bronstein M, Sternfeld M, Pisant-Shalom A, Lev-Lehman E, Weizman A, Reznik

I, Spivak B, Grisaru N, Karp L, Schiffer L, Kotler L, Strous RD, Swartz-Vanetik M, Kno-

bler HY, Shinar E, Beckmann JS, Yakir B, Risch N, Zak NB, Darvasi A (2002) A highly

significant association between a COMT haplotype and schizophrenia. Am. J. Hum. Genet.

71:1296-1302

7. Shifman S, Pisant-Shalom A, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2002) Quantitative technologies for allele

frequency estimation of SNPs in DNA pools. Mol. Cell. Probes 16:429-434



8. Kark S, Mukerji T, Safriel UN, Noy-Meir I, Nissani R, Darvasi A (2002) Peak morphological

diversity in an ecotone unveiled in the chukar partridge by a novel Estimator in a Dependent

Sample (EDS). J. Anim. Ecol. 71:1015-1029

9. Zak NB, Pisant-Shalom A, and Darvasi A (2003) Population-based gene discovery in psy-

chiatric diseases. Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics 3:51-57

10. Darvasi A (2003) Gene expression meets genetics. Nature 422:269-270

11. Shifman S, Kuypers J, Kokoris M, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2003) Linkage disequilibrium pat-

terns of the human genome across populations. Human Molecular Genetics 12:771-776

12. Wang X, Le-Roy I, Nicodeme E, Li R, Wagner R, Petros C, Churchill GA, Harris S, Dar-

vasi A, Kirilovsky J, Roubertoux PL, Paigen B (2003) Using Advanced Intercross Lines for

High Resolution Mapping of HDL Cholesterol Quantitative Trait Loci. Genome Research

13:1654- 64

13. Abiola O, Angel JM, Avner P, Bachmanov AA, Belknap JK, Bennett B, Blankenhorn EP,

Blizard DA, Bolivar V, Brockmann GA, Buck KJ, Bureau JF, Casley WL, Chesler EJ,

Cheverud JM, Churchill GA, Cook M, Crabbe JC, Crusio WE, Darvasi A, de Haan G, Der-

mant P, Doerge RW, Elliot RW, Farber CR, Flaherty L, Flint J, Gershenfeld H, Gibson JP,

Gu J, Gu W, Himmelbauer H, Hitzemann R, Hsu HC, Hunter K, Iraqi FF, Jansen RC, John-

son TE, Jones BC, Kempermann G, Lammert F, Lu L, Manly KF, Matthews DB, Medrano

JF, Mehrabian M, Mittlemann G, Mock BA, Mogil JS, Montagutelli X, Morahan G, Mountz

JD, Nagase H, Nowakowski RS, O’Hara BF, Osadchuk AV, Paigen B, Palmer AA, Peirce JL,

Pomp D, Rosemann M, Rosen GD, Schalkwyk LC, Seltzer Z, Settle S, Shimomura K, Shou

S, Sikela JM, Siracusa LD, Spearow JL, Teuscher C, Threadgill DW, Toth LA, Toye AA,

Vadasz C, Van Zant G, Wakeland E, Williams RW, Zhang HG, Zou F (2003) The nature and

identification of quantitative trait loci: a community’s view. Nature Reviews Genet. 4:911-

916 14. Shifman S, Bronstein M, Sternfeld M, Pisant A, Weizman A, Reznik I, Spivak B,

Grisaru N, Kar L, Schiffer L, Kotler M, Strous RD, Swartz-Vanetik M, Knobler HY, Shinar

E, Yakir B, Zak NB, Darvasi A (2004) COMT: A common susceptibility gene in bipolar



disorder and schizophrenia. Am. J. Med. Genet. 128:61-64

14. Cohen H, Danin-Poleg Y, Cohen CJ, Sprecher E, Darvasi A, Kashi Y (2004) Mono-nucleotide

repeats (MNRs): a neglected polymorphism for generating high density genetic maps in sil-

ico. Hum Genet 115:213-220

15. Churchill GA, Airey DC, Allayee H, Angel JM, Attie AD, Beatty J, Beavis WD, Belknap JK,

Bennett B, Berrettini W, Bleich A, Bogue M, Broman KW, Buck KJ, Buckler E, Burmeister

M, Chesler EJ, Cheverud JM, Clapcote S, Cook MN, Cox RD, Crabbe JC, Crusio WE,

Darvasi A, Deschepper CF, Doerge RW, Farber CR, Forejt J, Gaile D, Garlow SJ, Geiger

H, Gershenfeld H, Gordon T, Gu J, Gu W, de Haan G, Hayes NL, Heller C, Himmelbauer

H, Hitzemann R, Hunter K, Hsu HC, Iraqi FA, Ivandic B, Jacob HJ, Jansen RC, Jepsen KJ,

Johnson DK, Johnson TE, Kempermann G, Kendziorski C, Kotb M, Kooy RF, Llamas B,

Lammert F, Lassalle JM, Lowenstein PR, Lu L, Lusis A, Manly KF, Marcucio R, Matthews

D, Medrano JF, Miller DR, Mittleman G, Mock BA, Mogil JS, Montagutelli X, Morahan

G, Morris DG, Mott R, Nadeau JH, Nagase H, Nowakowski RS, O’hara BF, Osadchuk AV,

Page GP, Paigen B, Paigen K, Palmer AA, Pan HJ, Peltonen-Palotie L, Peirce J, Pomp D,

Pravenec M, Prows DR, Qi Z, Reeves RH, Roder J, Rosen GD, Schadt EE, Schalkwyk

LC, Seltzer Z, Shimomura K, Shou S, Sillanpaa MJ, Siracusa LD, Snoeck HW, Spearow

JL, Svenson K, Tarantino LM, Threadgill D, Toth LA, Valdar W, de Villena FP, Warden

C, Whatley S, Williams RW, Wiltshire T, Yi N, Zhang D, Zhang M, Zou F (2004) The

Collaborative Cross: A Community Resource for the Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits.

Nature Genetics 36:1133- 1137

16. Horowitz A, Shifman S, Rivlin N, Pisant A, Darvasi A (2005) A survey of the 22q11 mi-

crodeletion in a large cohort of schizophrenia patients. Schizophrenia Research 73:263-267

17. Darvasi A, Shifman S (2005) The beauty of admixture. Nature Genetics 37: 118-119

18. Shifman S, Darvasi A (2005) Mouse inbred strain sequence information and Yin-Yang

crosses for QTL fine mapping. Genetics 169:849-854

19. BenMoyal-Segal L, Vander T, Shifman S, Bryk B, Ebstein R, Marcus EL, Schtassman J,



Darvasi A, Herishanu Y, Friedman A, Soreq H (2005) Acetylcholinesterase/Paraoxonase

interactions increase the risk of insecticide-induced Parkinson’s disease. FASEB J 19:452-

454

20. Darvasi A (2005) Dissecting complex traits: the geneticists’ ’Around the world in 80 days’.

Trends in Genetics 21:373-376

21. Devor M, Gilad A, Arbilly M, Yakir B, Raber P, Pisant A, Darvasi A (2005) pain1: A

neuropathic pain QTL on mouse chromosome 15 in a C3H x C58 backcross. Pain 116: 289-

293

22. Galili-Weisstub E, S Levy S, A Frisch A,V Gross-Tsur V, E Michaelovsky E, Kosov A,

Meltzer A, Goltser T, Serretti A, Cusin C, Darvasi A, Inbar E, Weizman A, Segman RH

(2005) Dopamine transporter haplotype and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molec-

ular Psychiatry 10:617-618

23. Horowitz A, Shifman S, Rivlin N, Pisant A, Darvasi A (2005) Further tests of the associa-

tion between schizophrenia and single nucleotide polymorphism markers at the catechol-O-

methyltransferase locus in an Ashkenazi Jewish population using microsatellite markers.

Psychiatric Genetics 15: 163-169.

24. Darvasi A (2005) JOURNAL CLUB: A geneticist marvels at the wealth of genetic markers

that are now available. Nature 438: 261.

25. Silberberg G, Darvasi A, Pinkas-Kramarski R, Navon R (2006) The Involvement of ErbB4

with Schizophrenia: Association and expression studies. Am. J. Med. Genet. 141:142-148.

26. Arbilly M, Pisant A, Devor M, Darvasi A (2006) An integrative approach for the identifica-

tion of quantitative trait loci. Animal Genetics 37 (Suppl 1):7-9.

27. Shifman S, Levit A, Chen ML, Chen CH, Bronstein M, Weizman A, Yakir B, Navon R,

Darvasi A (2006) A complete genetic association scan of the 22q11 deletion region and

functional evidence reveal an association between DGCR2 and schizophrenia. Human Ge-

netics 120:160-70.

28. Darvasi A (2006) Closing in on complex traits. Nat Genet 38: 861-862.



29. Raber P, Del Canho S, Darvasi A, Devor M (2006) Mice congenic for a locus that determines

phenotype in the neuroma model of neuropathic pain. Exp Neurol 202: 200-6.

30. Cervino AC, Darvasi A, Fallahi M, Mader CC, Tsinoremas NF. (2007) An integrated in-

silico gene mapping strategy in inbred mice. Genetics 175: 321-333.

31. Devor M, Gilad A, Arbilly M, Nissenbaum J, Yakir B, Raber P, Minert A, Pisant A, Darvasi

A (2007) Sex specific variability and a ”cage effect” independently mask a neuropathic pain

QTL detected in a whole genome scan. Eur J Neuroscience 26:681-688.

32. Salonen JT, Uimari P, Aalto JM, Pirskanen M, Kaikkonen J, Todorova B, Hyppnen J, Korho-

nen VP, Asikainen J, Devine C, Tuomainen TP, Luedemann J, Nauck M, Kerner W, Stephens

RH, New JP, Ollier WE, Gibson JM, Payton A, Horan MA, Pendleton N, Mahoney W, Meyre

D, Delplanque J, Froguel P, Luzzatto O, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2007) Type 2 diabetes whole

genome association study in four populations: the DiaGen consortium. Am. J. Hum. Genet.

81:338-45.

33. Nissenbaum J, Shpigler H, Pisant A, delCanho S, Minert A, Seltzer Z, Devor M, Darvasi A

(2008) pain2: A neuropathic pain QTL identified on rat chromosome 2. Pain 135: 92-97.

34. Knafo A, Israel S, Darvasi A, Bachner-Melman R, Uzefovsky F, Cohen L, Feldman E, Lerer

E, Laiba E, Raz Y, Nemanov L, Gritsenko I, Dina C, Agam G, Dean B, Bornstein G, Eb-

stein RP (2008) Individual differences in allocation of funds in the dictator game associated

with length of the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a) RS3 promoter-region and cor-

relation between RS3 length and hippocampal mRNA (2008). Genes, Brain and Behavior

7:266-75.

35. Shifman S, Johannesson M, Bronstein M, Chen SX, Collier DA, Craddock NJ, Kendler KS,

Li T, O’Donovan M, O’Neill FA, Owen MJ, Walsh D, Weinberger DR, Sun C, Darvasi A

(2008) A Genome-Wide Association Identifies a Common Variant in the Reelin Gene that

Increases the Risk of Schizophrenia only in Women. PLoS Genetics 4: e28.

36. Soreq L, Gilboa-Geffen A, Berrih-Aknin S, Lacoste P, Darvasi A, Soreq E, Bergman H,

Soreq H (2008) Identifying alternative hyper-splicing signatures in MG-thymoma by exon



arrays. PLoS One 3:e2392.

37. Bronstein M, Pisant A, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2008) Type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci in the

Ashkenazi Jewish population. Human Genetics 124: 101-104.

38. Lerer E, Levi S, Salomon S, Darvasi A, Yirmiya N, Ebstein RP (2008) Association between

the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and autism: Relationship to Vineland Adaptive Behavior

Scales and Cognition. Mol. Psychiatry 13: 980-988.

39. O’Donovan MC, Craddock N, Norton N, Williams H, Peirce T, Moskvina V, Nikolov I,

Hamshere M, Carroll L, Georgieva L, Dwyer S, Holmans P, Marchini JL, Spencer CC,

Howie B, Leung HT, Hartmann AM, Mller HJ, Morris DW, Shi Y, Feng G, Hoffmann

P, Propping P, Vasilescu C, Maier W, Rietschel M, Zammit S, Schumacher J, Quinn EM,

Schulze TG, Williams NM, Giegling I, Iwata N, Ikeda M, Darvasi A, Shifman S, He L, Duan

J, Sanders AR, Levinson DF, Gejman PV; Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia Collabora-

tion, Gejman PV, Sanders AR, Duan J, Levinson DF, Buccola NG, Mowry BJ, Freedman R,

Amin F, Black DW, Silverman JM, Byerley WF, Cloninger CR, Cichon S, Nthen MM, Gill

M, Corvin A, Rujescu D, Kirov G, Owen MJ. (2008) Identification of loci associated with

schizophrenia by genome-wide association and follow-up. Nature Genetics 40: 1053-1055.

40. O’Donovan MC, Norton N, Williams H, Peirce T, Moskvina V, Nikolov I, Hamshere M,

Carroll L, Georgieva L, Dwyer S, Holmans P, Marchini JL, Spencer CC, Howie B, Leung

HT, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Mller HJ, Morris DW, Shi Y, Feng G, Hoffmann P, Prop-

ping P, Vasilescu C, Maier W, Rietschel M, Zammit S, Schumacher J, Quinn EM, Schulze

TG, Iwata N, Ikeda M, Darvasi A, Shifman S, He L, Duan J, Sanders AR, Levinson DF,

Adolfsson R, Osby U, Terenius L, Jnsson EG, Cichon S, Nthen MM, Gill M, Corvin AP,

Rujescu D, Gejman PV, Kirov G, Craddock N, Williams NM, Owen MJ (2008) Analysis of

10 independent samples provides evidence for association between schizophrenia and a SNP

flanking fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Mol Psychiatry (in press).




• The Israel Science Foudation (ISF). ”Mapping the genetic components of chronic pain in

rodents using novel strategies”. Other PI Benjamin Yakir, $230,000 (Oct. 2002 Oct. 2006)

• Ministry Of Science (Korean-Israeli Cooperation) ”Genetics of chronic pain in experimental

neuropathy”. Other PIs: Marshall Devor, Heung Sik Na $120,000 (Oct. 2002 Oct 2004)

• The European Sixth Framework Program, FP6 ”Heritability of chronic neuropathic pain”.

Other PIs: Marshall Devor, Benjamin Yakir, Michael Tal, $500,000 (May 2004 May 2007)

• Center for Converging Sciences and Technologies (The BINCA Grant). ”The neurobiologi-

cal basis of human cooperation, trust and altruistic behaviors: Nexus of molecular genetics,

economics, game theory and neural imaging” Other PIs: Richard P. Ebstein, Gary Bornstein,

Anat Maril, Ariel Knafo $100,000 (Oct 2006 Oct 2008)

• The Israel Science Foundation (ISF) ”Dissecting the genetic basis of neuropathic pain: iden-

tification and characterization of the underlying gene of the pain1 QTL” $275,000 (Oct 2006

Oct 2010)

• The European Seventh Framework Program, FP7 ”Quantomix - Development of technolo-

gies and tools for the exploitation of livestock genomes”. Other PI Moshe Soller, $300,000

(Oct 2008 Oct 2012)

4.2.3 Sagiv Shifman


Courses taught: None (new recruit)

Personal Information: Born: 2 August 1971, Jerusalem, Israel Married, 2 children

4.2.3.1 Education:

B.Sc. 1996, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Biology.



M.Sc. (MAGNA CUM LAUDE) 1998, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Behavioral

Ecology, Life Sciences. Advisor: Prof. D. Cohen, Thesis: ”The Effect of Anticipated Learning

on the Choice of Food Sources in the Fish Gambusia Affinis”.

Ph.D. 2004, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel: Genetics, Life Sciences. Advisor: Prof.

A. Darvasi, Thesis: ”Association Analysis for the Genetic Dissection of Complex traits Schizo-

phrenia as a Model”.



Galit Ovadia - ”The genetic variation of reelin expression in schizophrenia”

Ph.D. students (graduation year) None


• Post-doctoral Scientist (2004-2007), The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Uni-

versity of Oxford, UK.


1. Shifman S, Johannesson M, Bronstein M, Chen SX, Collier DA, Craddock NJ, Kendler

KS, Li T, O’Donovan M, O’Neill FA, Owen MJ, Walsh D, Weinberger DR, Sun C, Flint

J, Darvasi A (2008) Genome-Wide Association Identifies a Common Variant in the Reelin

Gene That Increases the Risk of Schizophrenia Only in Women. PLoS Genet 4(2): e28.

2. O’Donovan MC, Craddock N, Norton N, Williams H, Peirce T, Moskvina V, Nikolov I,

Hamshere M, Carroll L, Georgieva L, Dwyer S, Holmans P, Marchini JL, Spencer CC,

Howie B, Leung HT, Hartmann AM, Moller HJ, Morris DW, Shi Y, Feng G, Hoffmann

P, Propping P, Vasilescu C, Maier W, Rietschel M, Zammit S, Schumacher J, Quinn EM,

Schulze TG, Williams NM, Giegling I, Iwata N, Ikeda M, Darvasi A, Shifman S, He L,

Duan J, Sanders AR, Levinson DF, Gejman PV, Gejman PV, Sanders AR, Duan J, Levinson



DF, Buccola NG, Mowry BJ, Freedman R, Amin F, Black DW, Silverman JM, Byerley WF,

Cloninger CR, Cichon S, Nothen MM, Gill M, Corvin A, Rujescu D, Kirov G, Owen MJ

(2008) Identification of loci associated with schizophrenia by genome-wide association and

follow- up. Nat Genet.

3. Flint J, Shifman S (2008) Animal models of psychiatric disease. Curr Opin Genet Dev 18(3):

235-240.

4. Shifman S, Bhomra A, Smiley S, Wray NR, James MR, Martin NG, Hettema JM, An SS,

Neale MC, van den Oord EJ, Kendler KS, Chen X, Boomsma DI, Middeldorp CM, Hottenga

JJ, Slagboom PE, Flint J (2008) A whole genome association study of neuroticism using

DNA pooling. Mol Psychiatry 13(3): 302-312.

5. Fullerton JM, Willis-Owen SA, Yalcin B, Shifman S, Copley RR, Miller SR, Bhomra A,

Davidson S, Oliver PL, Mott R, Flint J (2008) Human-mouse quantitative trait locus concor-

dance and the dissection of a human neuroticism locus. Biol Psychiatry 63(9): 874-883.

6. O’Donovan MC, Norton N, Williams H, Peirce T, Moskvina V, Nikolov I, Hamshere M,

Carroll L, Georgieva L, Dwyer S, Holmans P, Marchini JL, Spencer CC, Howie B, Leung

HT, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Moller HJ, Morris DW, Shi Y, Feng G, Hoffmann P, Prop-

ping P, Vasilescu C, Maier W, Rietschel M, Zammit S, Schumacher J, Quinn EM, Schulze

TG, Iwata N, Ikeda M, Darvasi A, Shifman S, He L, Duan J, Sanders AR, Levinson DF,

Adolfsson R, Osby U, Terenius L, Jonsson EG, Cichon S, Nothen MM, Gill M, Corvin AP,

Rujescu D, Gejman PV, Kirov G, Craddock N, Williams NM, Owen MJ (2008) Analysis of

10 independent samples provides evidence for association between schizophrenia and a SNP

flanking fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Mol Psychiatry.

7. Martin J, Cleak J, Willis-Owen SA, Flint J, Shifman S (2007) Mapping regulatory variants

for the serotonin transporter gene based on allelic expression imbalance. Mol Psychiatry

12(5): 421-422.

8. Willis-Owen SA, Shifman S, Copley RR, Flint J (2006) DCNP1: a novel candidate gene for

major depression. Mol Psychiatry 11(2): 121-122.



9. Shifman S, Bell JT, Copley RR, Taylor MS, Williams RW, Mott R, Flint J (2006) A high-

resolution single nucleotide polymorphism genetic map of the mouse genome. PLoS Biol

4(12): e395.

10. Shifman S, Levit A, Chen ML, Chen CH, Bronstein M, Weizman A, Yakir B, Navon R,

Darvasi A (2006) A complete genetic association scan of the 22q11 deletion region and

functional evidence reveal an association between DGCR2 and schizophrenia. Hum Genet

120(2): 160-170.

11. Flint J, Valdar W, Shifman S, Mott R (2005) Strategies for mapping and cloning quantitative

trait genes in rodents. Nat Rev Genet 6(4): 271-286.

12. Shifman S, Darvasi A (2005) Mouse inbred strain sequence information and yin-yang crosses

for quantitative trait locus fine mapping. Genetics 169(2): 849-854.

13. Benmoyal-Segal L, Vander T, Shifman S, Bryk B, Ebstein RP, Marcus EL, Stessman J,

Darvasi A, Herishanu Y, Friedman A, Soreq H (2005) Acetylcholinesterase/paraoxonase

interactions increase the risk of insecticide-induced Parkinson’s disease. FASEB J 19(3):

452- 454.

14. Horowitz A, Shifman S, Rivlin N, Pisante A, Darvasi A (2005) A survey of the 22q11 mi-

crodeletion in a large cohort of schizophrenia patients. Schizophr Res 73(2-3): 263-267.

15. Horowitz A, Shifman S, Rivlin N, Pisante A, Darvasi A (2005) Further tests of the associ-

ation between schizophrenia and single nucleotide polymorphism markers at the catechol-

O-methyltransferase locus in an Askenazi Jewish population using microsatellite markers.

Psychiatr Genet 15(3): 163-169.

16. Shifman S, Bronstein M, Sternfeld M, Pisante A, Weizman A, Reznik I, Spivak B, Grisaru

N, Karp L, Schiffer R, Kotler M, Strous RD, Swartz-Vanetik M, Knobler HY, Shinar E, Yakir

B, Zak NB, Darvasi A (2004) COMT: a common susceptibility gene in bipolar disorder and

schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 128(1): 61-64.

17. Shifman S, Kuypers J, Kokoris M, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2003) Linkage disequilibrium pat-

terns of the human genome across populations. Hum Mol Genet 12(7): 771-776.



18. Shifman S, Bronstein M, Sternfeld M, Pisante-Shalom A, Lev-Lehman E, Weizman A,

Reznik I, Spivak B, Grisaru N, Karp L, Schiffer R, Kotler M, Strous RD, Swartz-Vanetik

M, Knobler HY, Shinar E, Beckmann JS, Yakir B, Risch N, Zak NB, Darvasi A (2002) A

highly significant association between a COMT haplotype and schizophrenia. Am J Hum

Genet 71(6): 1296-1302.

19. Shifman S, Pisante-Shalom A, Yakir B, Darvasi A (2002) Quantitative technologies for allele

frequency estimation of SNPs in DNA pools. Mol Cell Probes 16(6): 429-434.

20. Zak NB, Shifman S, Shalom A, Darvasi A (2002) Genetic dissection of common diseases.

Isr Med Assoc J 4(6): 438-443.

21. McGinnis R, Shifman S, Darvasi A (2002) Power and efficiency of the TDT and case-control

design for association scans. Behav Genet 32(2): 135-144.


• ”The genetic variation of reelin expression in schizophrenia”: NARSAD-Young Investigator

Award: 60,000$: 2008-2010

• ”Allelic expression in autism: A novel approach for gene discovery”: ISF-The Legacy Her-

itage Fund Program: 768,750$: 2008-2011

• ”Genetics of ErbB4 expression and schizophrenia susceptibility”: Rosenbaum Milton En-

dowment Fund for Research in Psychiatric Sciences: 15,000$: 2008

4.2.4 Sebastian Kadener


Courses taught: None (new recruit)

Personal Information: Born: 13 November 1973, Buenos Aires, Argentina Married, 2 chil-

dren

Education:



Licenciado en Ciencias Biologicas (equivalent to MSc.) (Cum Laude) 1998, University of

Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ph.D. (Cum Laude) 2002, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina University

of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Advisor: Prof. A. Kornblihtt, Thesis: Role of

transcriptional elongation on alternative splicing.


Ron Weiss (started 11/2008)


• Senior Lecturer (since 7/2008)


1. Kadener S., Sugino K., Horwich M., Nawathean P., V. Vagin, Zamore P., Nelson S. and

Rosbash M. microRNAs Affect Drosophila Circadian Rhythms Submitted (2008).

2. Kadener S., Rodriguez J., Abruzzi K. and Rosbash M. Genome-wide identification of targets

of the drosha-pasha/DGCR8 complex. RNA in press (2008).

3. Kadener S., Schoer R., Menet J., Rosbash M. Circadian transcription contributes to core

period determination in Drosophila PLOS Biology 6(5):119 (2008).

4. Kadener S, Stoleru D, McDonald M, Nawathean P, Rosbash M. Clockwork orange is a

transcriptional repressor and a new Drosophila circadian pacemaker component Genes Dev.

21:1675 (2007).

5. Rosbash M, Bradley S, Kadener S, Li Y, Luo W, Menet JS, Nagoshi E, Palm K, Schoer R,

Shang Y, Tang CH. Transcriptional feedback and definition of the circadian pacemaker in

Drosophila and animals. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 72:75 (2007).

6. Kadener S, Villella A, Kula E, Palm K, Pyza E, Botas J, Hall JC, Rosbash M. Neurotoxic

protein expression reveals connections between the circadian clock and mating behavior in

Drosophila.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 103:13547 (2006).



7. Lacadie SA, Tardiff DF, Kadener S, Rosbash M. In vivo commitment to yeast cotranscrip-

tional splicing is sensitive to transcription elongation mutants. Genes Dev. 20:2055 (2006).

Selected for Faculty of 1000 by Daniel Raines (Factor 3.0 Recommended)

8. Fededa JP, Petrillo E, Gelfand MS, Neverov AD, Kadener S, Nogues G, Pelisch F, Baralle

FE, Muro AF, Kornblihtt AR. A polar mechanism coordinates different regions of alternative

splicing within a single gene. Mol Cell. 19:393 (2005).

9. Brown SA, Ripperger J, Kadener S, Fleury-Olela F, Vilbois F, Rosbash M, Schibler U.

PERIOD1-associated proteins modulate the negative limb of the mammalian circadian os-

cillator. Science 308:693 (2005).

10. de la Mata M, Alonso CR, Kadener S, Fededa JP, Blaustein M, Pelisch F, Cramer P, Bentley

D, Kornblihtt AR. A slow RNA polymerase II affects alternative splicing in vivo. Mol Cell

12:525 (2005).

11. Allada R, Kadener S, Nandakumar N, Rosbash M. A recessive mutant of Drosophila Clock

reveals a role in circadian rhythm amplitude. EMBO J. 22:3367 (2003).

12. Nogues G, Kadener S, Cramer P, de la Mata M, Fededa JP, Blaustein M, Srebrow A, Korn-

blihtt AR. Control of alternative pre-mRNA splicing by RNA Pol II elongation: faster is not

always better. IUBMB Life 55:235 (2003).

13. Portal D, Espinosa JM, Lobo GS, Kadener S, Pereira CA, De La Mata M, Tang Z, Lin

RJ, Kornblihtt AR, Baralle FE, Flawia MM, Torres HN. An early ancestor in the evolution

of splicing: a Trypanosoma cruzi serine-arginine-rich protein (TcSR) is functional in cis-

splicing. Mol Biochem Parasitology 127:37 (2003).

14. Portal D, Lobo GS, Kadener S, Prasad J, Espinosa JM, Pereira CA, Tang Z, Lin RJ, Manley

JL, Kornblihtt AR, Flawia MM, Torres HN. Trypanosoma cruzi TcSRPK, the first protozoan

member of the SRPK family, is biochemically and functionally conserved with metazoan SR

protein-specific kinases. Mol Biochem Parasitology 127:9 (2003).

15. Nogues G, Kadener S, Cramer P, Bentley D, Kornblihtt AR.. Transcriptional activators differ

in their abilities to control alternative splicing. J. Biol Chem 277:43110 (2002).



16. Kadener S , Fededa JP, Rosbash M, Kornblihtt AR. Regulation of alternative splicing by a

transcriptional enhancer through RNA pol II elongation. Proc.Natl Acad Sci U S A. 99:8185

(2002). Track II.

17. Kadener S., Cramer P., Nogues G., Cazalla D., de la Mata M., Fededa J., Werbajh S., Sre-

brow A. and Kornblihtt A. Antagonistic effects of T-Ag and VP16 reveal a role for RNA

polymerase II elongation in alternative splicing. EMBO J. 20:5759 (2002).


• Title: Biochemical characterization of miRNA-mediated regulation of circadian rhythms in

Drosophila. Funding Agency: Lewja grant for Biochemistry Total grant: $35,000 Period:

1/2009-1/2010


Chapter 5

Animal Collections at the Hebrew

University

The Biological collections at the Hebrew University are subdivided into seven different indi-

vidual sections: Invertebrates, Fish (Icythyology), Reptiles and Amphibians (Herpetology), Ar-

chaeozoology and Palaeontology, Mollusca and the Herbarium, which contains the largest col-

lection of flora of the Middle East. The work of the collections is funded in part by the Faculty of

Sciences and part through an annual grant from Vatat. The systematics and taxonomy research

work of the collections is coordinated by its director (Prof. Alan Matthews: administrative coor-

dinator, Dr D Golani) and a central computing unit (managed by Dr S. Askenazi) is responsible

for the computerization of the catalogue and the mounting of an open access internet site to this

catalogue. The Collections also supports the development of the BioGIS biodiversity geograph-

ical information system by Professor R. Kadmon.

The collections are undergoing many challenges related to retirements, budget cuts and

changes in priorities with the molecular revolution in biological sciences. Yet, as the potentially

adverse impacts of climate and environment change become increasingly evident, collections

based research provides a continuous timeline, recording the impact of these changes on animal

life. In a new Vatat initiated program, we have made two new joint academic-curator appoint-

127

5.1. Invertebrates

ments, which attempt to bridge classic fields of collections systematic research with modern

scientific methodologies. This policy holds a key to the future of the collections as a viable

entity, since it allows us to develop new research lines and most importantly a new generation of

research students.

The following paragraphs detail present senior personnel, holdings and research work of the

individual animal sciences collections.

5.1 Invertebrates

Dr A.D. Chipman, Director and Curator (joined October 2007)

Prof. F.D. Por, Emeritus Director

Dr. M.N. Ben-Eliahu, Emerita Curator and Collections manager

Dr G. Levy, Emeritus Curator and manager of the Arachnid collection

Dr C.H. Dimentman, Associate Researcher

Dr M. Tsurnamal, Associate Researcher

The extensive collections of marine and inland water invertebrates (Aquatic Invertebrates with

the Arachnid and medical parasitological collection) comprise several million specimens be-

longing to 120 major taxa (animal groups). The marine collections, with some specimens dating

from the 1930’s, include collections of benthos and plankton from the Mediterranean and Red

Seas (including gulfs of Suez and Elat and the Suez Canal) and other locations; the material was

collected as part of general surveys or research projects on specific taxa. Inland-water collec-

tions include: the Lake Kinneret and Hula wetlands, fauna of catchments and wetlands, fauna

from the karstic areas in the Jordan Dead Sea aquatic ecosystem and caves speings from the

Judean Hills area. The National Arachnological collection is under our care.

5.1.1 Research

Dr Chipman’s research focuses on: the evolution of animal body plans; the evolution of devel-

opment; Arthropod segmentation; the evolutionary origin of the arthropod head. This research


5.2. Icythyology

is decribed in detail in the ESE part of the assessment and will not be elaborated here.

Other current collections research in the collections is systematic in nature and is carried

out by retired academic and technical staff. Most notable are work on the serpulid (Annelida)

taxa of the Red Sea and Mediterranean (Dr. M.N. Ben-Eliahu), Copepoda (Crustacea) of the

region (Prof. F.D. Por) and Aranea (Chelicerata) of Israel (Dr. G. Levi). Other research has

a stronger ecology/biodiversity aspect, most notably Dr. Ch. Dimentmans work on the fauna

of the Hula water system and of the Ayyalon subterranean cave system. Additional work on

the collection is carried out by foreign visitors who use samples from the collection for their

own systematics research. Future plans for research in the collection involve collaborating with

researchers working on the current biodiversity of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea,

and comparing the current state with that represented in the data from historical samples in the

collection.

5.2 Icythyology

Dr D. Golani, Curator and collection manager

The Hebrew University Fish collection is the largest and most comprehensive in the Middle East.

It was established at the beginning of the 20th century and through the years has incorporated

material from smaller collections and scientific expeditions. The collection numbers over 21,500

samples, mainly consists of representatives of the fish fauna in of Israel, from the Mediterranean

and Red Sea coasts of Israel and from inland water habitats. Also included are many specimens

from adjacent locations, such as Rhodes, Cyprus and Turkey in the Mediterranean and Egypt

and Eritrea and the Red Sea.

5.2.1 Research

Current research lead by Dr Golani focuses on the following topics. (1) Biodiversity of the East-

ern Mediterranean fishes: long term studies of the dynamics of the distribution and dispersion

of fish populations as influenced by climate change, opening of the Suez Canal and the Aswan


5.3. Reptiles and Amphibians

Dam. (2) Genetic analysis comparing source fish populations in the Red Sea to their co-specific

populations of migrants into the Mediterranean (”Lessepsian migrants”).(3) Molecular studies

comparing Red Sea fishes to Indo-Pacific species, in order to clarify genetic similarity and dif-

ferences. (4) Collection of specimens of Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indo-Pacific fishes for

amplifying the Fish Collection as an vital tool for current and future research. (5) Updating

existing lists of fish species in the Red Sea: The lists compiled up to now included all species

mentioned in the Red Sea without filtering out those unconfirmed records that resulted in an

overestimation of the number of species.

5.3 Reptiles and Amphibians

Prof. Y.L. Werner, Emeritus curator

Mr. B. Shacham, M.Sc., Collection manager

The Herpetology collection comprises just over 22,000 catalogued specimens of reptiles and

amphibians from all over the world. Most of the specimens in the collection are from Israel

and Sinai and the collections is considered the most extensive record of Middle Eastern Taxa.

The better part of the collection is preserved in alcohol; the minority consists of stuffed or dry

specimens. Since the early 1990’s, tissue samples from fresh specimens have been preserved for

future DNA analysis.

5.3.1 Research

Current research in the collections lead by Prof Werner includes the following major themes.

(1) Herpetology of the Middle East: defining the taxa (morphology, DNA), mapping their dis-

tribution ranges, correlating the latter with environmental factors, assessing conservation prob-

lems and suggesting conservation means, and reconstructing the historical biogeography of the

herpetofauna. Extracting biological data from collections material, such as the timing of repro-

duction and growth curves (including age at maturity). (2) Structure-function relations: Sex-

ual dimorphism, its ontogeny and phylogeny.Eco-morphology: morphological adaptations to


5.4. Paleontology and Archaeozoology

the environment, e.g., nocturnality, sand-swimming. Geographical intra-specific variation of

morphology and of reproduction (hopefully also physiology) as correlated with environmental

gradients.

5.4 Paleontology and Archaeozoology

Dr R. Rabinovich, Director and Curator (Appointment from July 2008)

Dr L.K. Horovitz, Associate Researcher

The bulk of collections are the Palaeontological- Archaeozoological collections (including com-

parative mammal and bird collections) from hundreds of sites representing the history of Fauna

from the Cretaceous-Triassic and Pliocene-Pleistocene-Holocene of Israel. The collection, which

is an amalagamation of the extensive collection built up by the late Professor E, Tchernov and the

similarly large palaeontological collection of the Earth Sciences Institute, holds an impressive

body of information on the fossil record of the whole region, the faunal evolution of the east-

ern Mediterranean, its biogeographic origin, and implicitly, paleoclimate conditions in the area.

Specimens from archaeological sites are being accumulated constantly and their bone material

is analysed as part of the ongoing collections work.

The recent mammalian comparative collection consists (ca 10,000 specimens) mainly rep-

resents the fauna of Israel and adjacent regions and includes specimens of all taxa collected

during the past 65 years. The recent avian comparative collection includes specimens of all taxa

collected during the past 65 years with representative populations from various regions in the

country.

5.4.1 Research

Dr Rabinovich’s research straddles the interface between zoological, geological and humanis-

tic studies in that it focuses on faunal remains as paleoenvironmental indicators of past human

societies. Much of the work centers on taphonomic paleontological studies that elucidate the

agents and processes responsible for the creation of fossil faunal assemblages and the faunal


5.5. Mollusca Collection

record. Her work mainly focusses on the faunal assemblages, mostly mammals from Pleis-

tocene localities. In the southern Levant most of the fauna from this period originate from sites

associated with human activity. This integrative approach of studying site formation processes

does not consider sites solely as the products of anthropogenic activity. It integrates the whole

range of processes contributing to the genesis of an archaeological site, including the disciplines

of geology, sedimentology and taphonomy. Thus the research attempts to discern between the

human-related patterns of collecting fauna, such as dietary practices and cultural traditions, to

environmental factors, such the sedimentary setting and changing of climatic conditions.

5.5 Mollusca Collection

Prof. J. Heller, Curator

Mr H.K. Meinis, Collection manager and Librarian

Dr S. Askenazi, Associate Researcher

The mollusc collection of the Hebrew University consists of a local collection ( land and fresh-

water mollusks of Israel, marine mollusks of the Mediterrannean coast of Israel and of the Red

Sea) and several private collections that have been donated to the Hebrew University since 1952.

The collections comprise some 100,000 samples (ca. 1 million specimens), representing some

25,000 different species. It is the most important collection and library of molluscs in the Middle

East.

5.5.1 Research

Most of the work in the collection is connected with the Cureent research subjects of J. Heller,

H.K Mienis and S. Ashkenazi. Topics under current research related to Israeli mollusca include

(1) -Taxonomy and distribution of the recent and fossil freshwater and terrestrial molluscs of

Israel (J. Heller, H.K. Mienis and Sh. Ashkenazi). (2) Taxonomy and distribution of Mediter-

ranean and Red Sea molluscs (H.K. Mienis). (3) Lessepsian migration and settlement of other

Indo-Pacific molluscs in the Eastern Mediterranean (H.K. Mienis). (4) Molluscs from archaeo-


5.5. Mollusca Collection

logical excavations (H.K. Mienis). (5) Shells from the paleontological and archaeological sites

of Gesher Benot Ya’aqov (S. Ashkenazi and H.K. Mienis). (5) Taxonomy and distribution of

Cephalopods along the Mediterranean coast of Israel (H.K. Mienis).


Chapter 6

Teaching of Animal Sciences at the

Alexander Silberman Institute of Life

Sciences

6.1 Introduction

The curriculum developed for the three years biology B.Sc. program is aimed at providing the

basic background and scientific knowledge, while allowing flexibility and personal preferences.

Core courses during the first year cover calculus, chemistry, physics as well as cell biology,

genetics and biochemistry.

During the second and third years the students have to choose a set of courses covering a

variety of topics. However, in order to keep the wide perspective the courses are grouped into

two “branches” and two “sub-branches”, and each student is expected to select coursers dealing

with all levels of biological disciples.

As an integral part of the biological education, animal research is covered at various lev-

els. In the “cellular, molecular and developmental branch students deepen their knowledge into

biological processes taking place at the molecular, through cellular to the whole organism lev-

134

6.2. Courses Syllabi

els. They learn about topics such as molecular biology of animal cells, human genetics and

mechanisms of differentiation and tumorigenesis, genetics of complex traits and processes in

embryonic development. The second branch, “organism and environment”, covers higher lev-

els of organization, namely, from the functioning individual to the society and the outer world.

Here courses cover broad topics such as physiology, neurobiology, endocrinology, ecology and

evolution. We teach also more specific subjects such as animal behavior, neural mechanisms of

animal behavior, biology and ecology of fish and evolution and ecology of birds. Due to budget-

ing, only a few practical courses are offered to a limited number of students, for example animal

behavior-experimental approaches and the ecosystem of the red sea.

Below we present the courses and respective syllabi that are taught in the Alexander Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences and contain material that is related to animal life sciences. Some

courses revolve directly around animal life sciences (e.g. Advanced lab in developmental biol-

ogy) while others provide introductory material (e.g. Introductory biochemistry). We note that

one credit point reflects one hour per week in a semester. A list of all courses in tabular form

can be found in Tables 6.1-6.9.

6.2 Courses Syllabi

6.2.1 Computation and Cognition A (06118)

Teacher: Dr. Yonatan Loewenstein

The course introduces a mechanistic approach to cognition: how computation in the brain

emerges from the dynamics of networks of neurons. Topics discussed in the course include rate

models of neural networks, the Hopfield model for associative memory, the Perceptron model for

categorization, supervised learning in linear networks, gradient-learning and back-propagation,

unsupervised learning and Principle Component Analysis.



6.2.2 Computation and Cognition B (06133) (3 pts)

Teacher: Dr. Yonatan Loewenstein

The course introduces a functional approach to cognition in the context of decision making un-

der certainty: what should be considered as an optimal behavior and when behavior consistently

deviates from optimality. Topics discussed in the course include normative theory of probabil-

ity, Von Neumann-Morgenstern Expected Utility Theory, Prospect Theory, Game Theory and

Reinforcement Learning: Bellman Eq., dynamic programming, TD learning and REINFORCE

6.2.3 From Cell to Organism (72109)

Teachers: Dr. Benjamin Aroeti & Dr. Dan Tchernov.

Time: First year undergrads, Term A. Lectures are given biweekly, 4 hrs per week. Total credit:

4 points. The aim is to expose first year undergraduate students to the basic principles underlying

cellular organization and organism biology. The course covers the following broad topics: 1)

Structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic (plant and animal) cells. 2) Evolutionary

ecological and physiological principles of multicellular organisms.

6.2.4 Introduction to ecology and population biology (72107)

Teachers: Prof. Amatzia Genin & Prof. Uzi Motro.

The course covers basic concepts, principles, and theory in ecology and population genetics and

biology. The ecology section consists of a general background on the abiotic environment, food

webs, competition, predator-prey interactions, community structure, species diversity, carbon

and nitrogen cycles, and the effect of the growing human population on the global ecosystem.

The population biology section covers the following topics: population genetics, demography,

selection, mutation, recombination, heredity of quantitative traits, evolutionary stable strategies,

the evolution of sexual reproduction, conflicts in animal behavior.



6.2.5 From Cell to Organism (72108)

Part I: Introduction to biology: Biological molecules, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells, Struc-

ture and function of the cell. Biological information. Organelles and their function in cellular

processes. Cell cycle. Interaction between cells. Part II: Organisms - who they are and how

the function. Evolution of eukaryotic cells, plants and animals. Multicellular organisms - their

physiology and their behavior.

6.2.6 From Cell to Organism Lab (72110)

This course provides first year students with the opportunity to learn about the major animal

groups first hand. The course starts with an introduction to microscopy and histology. It then

moves through the major animal groups, starting with protists, through the main invertebrate

phyla, and ends with an introduction to vertebrates with a dogfish dissection. Lab work combines

observing histological sections and fixed whole organisms, looking at live behaving animals, and

dissections.

6.2.7 Biochemistry of the Cell (72121)

Teachers: Oded Livnah (coordinator), David Engelberg, Shimon Schuldiner

First year undergraduate course for all Biology majors (about 250 students) covering all aspects

of biochemistry including proteins and nucleic acid structure, carbohydrates, lipids, membrane

structure and transport, basic metabolism pathways and cycles, integration of metabolism.

6.2.8 Cellular Biochemistry (72120)

Teachers: Prof. Isaiah Arkin, Prof. Oded Livnah & Prof. Joseph Orly

Similar to 72121 except for the fact that it is given to chemistry major, those students taking the

chemistry-biology dual major and psychobiology majors.



6.2.9 Guided Seminar Honor’s program Etgar (72140)

Teacher: Prof. Ronen Kadmon

This course attempts to provide the students basic skills and tools required for self learning,

reading, understanding, integrating, and presenting scientific material in major disciplines of the

life sciences.

6.2.10 Basic Concepts in Biology (72151)

Teacher: Prof. Eduardo Mitrani

The course is divided in two parts: 2/3 Frontal Lectures, 1/3 Invited speakers. Frontal lectures

cover basic principles of chemistry and biology with emphasis as to how living organisms strore

information (DNA) which can reproduce itself and at the same time directs production of con-

stituents of biological systems. What is a cell and how cells differentiate into tissues and form

organisms. Within the frontal lectures subjects like origin of life, regeneration and stem cells

are also discussed. Invited speakers present an overall view of current issues such as evolution,

genetic engineering, the human genome and advances in neurobiology and in molecular biology.

6.2.11 General genetics (72155)

Teachers: Prof. Yosef Gruenbaum, Prof. Michael Brandeis & Dr. Carmelit Richler

General genetics is the compulsory introductory course in genetics for all biology graduate

students. The course consists of lectures, tutorial and laboratory sessions. The course covers

Mendelian heritage, molecular aspects of genetics, the role and structer of DNA and chromatin,

introduction to genomics, human genetics, the role of genetics in development, bacterial genetics

and recombinant DNA methods.



6.2.12 Cellular Biochemistry laboratory course (72157)

Teacher: Prof. Joseph Orly

Given to selected group of second year Biology student (20-30) in conjunction with the Ba-

sic Biochemistry Course. The long lab sessions (6x 8 hours) and 2-3 preparatory discussions

with the group instructors enable enough time for a unique approach of training the students

how to define an experimental design addressing a given biological question, execution of the

experiments individually planned by the students, and orally analyze and discuss the results

in a colloquial fashion, followed by a written report submitted in a science report style. The

course is divided between two master projects: (a) characterization of a soluble enzyme-alkaline

phosphatase- by use of colorimetric assay, including determinations of Km to substrate, Ki for

Pi, effect of pH on catalysis, effect of temperature on Q10 value and protein denaturation, and

purification by salting-out, ethanol precipitation, ion exchange chromatography. (b) character-

ization of hormone-controlled membrane enzyme- adenylyl cyclase- by use of radio-isotope-

3H-adenine fed into live turkey erythrocytes. Adenine is rapidly turned in the cells to 3H-ATP,

which is convert to 3HcAMP upon addition of a beta-adrenergic hormone like epinephrine. The

individually planned experiments include determination of ED50 and ID50 values for poten-

tial agonists, partial agonists and antagonists of the adrenergic receptor, including isoprenaline,

epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and propranolol. Also, the students demonstrate degra-

dation of cAMP by 3’-5’-phosphodiesterase in the cells, characterize the uptake mechanism of

adenine into the cells and the associated salvage pathway to make ATP. This project makes use

of scintillation counting, phosphorimager, thin layer chromatography and isolation of 3h-cAMP

from 3H-ATP/ADP/AMP by ion exchange and alumina-oxide purification column.

6.2.13 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (72301)

Teacher: Prof. Ariel Darvasi

The course presents an introduction to probability and statistics. Initially, descriptive statis-



ticsare discussed covering basic issues, such as averages, means, variance, standard deviation,

histograms, etc. Then an introduction to probability theory is presented including basic probabil-

ity rules, random variables and various distributions. Basic test of hypothesis including t-tests,

tests on proportions and chi square tests are also covered. Finally an introduction to regression

analysis will be presented.

6.2.14 Processes in Embryonic Development (72320)

Teachers: Dr. Nissim Ben-Arie and Dr. Uri Gat

Developmental biology, one of the hottest topics in modern biology, deals with the complexes

processes taking place during the generation of the adult organism from the merging of two

gametes. We will get familiar with model organisms, tools and techniques that allow study of

various developmental processes and stages. We will cover selected topics from various points

of view: genetic and molecular, from cellular to the level of the whole organism. The course

covers topics such as fertilization, gastrulating and organogenesis (e.g. skeleton and nervous

system development).

6.2.15 Directed Research for Etgar students (72327, 72328)


Based on course 72390 etgar students choose to be part of a research team preferably in the

Institute. They can choose to start this on the second year (72327) or only the third year (72328).

AT the end of the third year the students present the results of their research first as a report

which is written in the form of a scientific paper. At the end of the semester (third year) a mini

symposium itakes place where each student presents his research.

6.2.16 Guided project in biological research (72329)

Teacher: Prof. Yosef Gruenbaum

The guided project course accet students with a minimum total average grade of 85. These



students work in research laboratories of the Hebrew University. At the end of the 3rd year they

have 3 days of lectures, in which each student present his project. Later, the students have also

to submit papers on their projects.

6.2.17 Introduction to the Ecosystem of the Gulf of Eilat ( 72330)

Teacher: Prof. Amatzia Genin.

An inter-university course, taught by 6-10 marine scientists from different universities; the

course is given twice a year. This course covers the basic principles, theory, and observation on

the biology, physical oceanography, chemical oceanography and bio-geochemistry of the open

waters and coral reefs in the northern Gulf of Eilat. The course consists of lectures, laboratories,

and field projects.

6.2.18 Introduction to Molecular Biology (72332)

Teachers: Prof. David Engelberg, Dr. Eran Meshorer & Prof. Yosi Shlomai

The course inclues the following topics: 1) The sturcture and topology of DNA, organization of

the chromatin and organization of the genome. 2) Transcription, regulation of transcription and

maturation of RNA. 3) Translation. 4) Transgenic technology.

6.2.19 Biochemistry: Advanced level (72339)

Teacher: Prof. Daphne Atlas & Prof. Isaiah Arkin

The principles of cellular signaling through receptors at the cell membrane and the molecular

mechanisms involved in taste, vision and smell, including ionic and ligand gated channels

6.2.20 Introduction to microbiology (72335 and 72362)

Teacher: Prof. Aharon Oren

The basic course in microbiology: The anatomy of the prokaryotic cell; Microbial metabolic

diversity and bioenergetics; The principles of aerobic and anaerobic respiration, fermentation,



oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophy and chemolithotrophy; Phylogenetic diversity in the prokary-

ote world: Bacteria and Archaea.

6.2.21 Introduction in Physiology (72336) (72363)

Teacher: Dr. Adi Mizrahi, Prof. Shaul Hochstein and Prof. Itzchak Parnas, Prof. Idan Segev.

The course describes the physical and chemical principles that allow a living organism to main-

tain a viable internal milieu. It describes the structure and function of membranes (and proteins)

that allow information transfer in excitable and non excitable membranes as well as systems

physiology (cardiovascular and renal).

6.2.22 Physiology: advanced level (72343)

Teacher: Prof. Israel Nelken, Prof. Marshall Devor

This is a course in the physiology of systems, following the basic physiology course. It covers

the nervous system from a systems view and the homeostatic systems (cardiovascular, respira-

tory and renal functions) with a control theory approach. The course emphasizes the common

principles and interactions between the systems. The students perform a number of computer-

ized labs in which they run and analyze simulations of the homeostatic systems.

6.2.23 Advanced course in classic and molecular Genetics (72345)

Teachers: Dr. Yehuda Tzfati & Dr. Michal Goldberg

This advanced course in Genetics focuses mainly on genome stability. In particular, we will

discuss the interactions between cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response and repair, and

telomeres and telomerase. These interactions will be demonstrated in the laboratory part of the

course, in a series of experiments in yeast model systems. The implications of these essential

pathways on human diseases, such as cancer and immunodeficiency will be discussed. In addi-

tion, we will cover related topics such as the RNA world, transposones, genetic mapping, and

genetics of complex traits.



6.2.24 Guided Projects in Biological Research for Psychobiology Students mif-

gash mudrach (72348)

Teacher: Prof. Marshall Devor

In this course 3rd year students in the Psychobiology Program become involved in actual sci-

entific research work, in an active research laboratory, under the guidance of an appropriate

University faculty member. The student may work directly with the faculty advisor, but in most

cases hands-on work is with a graduate student in the lab under faculty supervision. In addition

to seeing how research science is done, this is an opportunity for students to become familiar

with faculty members and their teams on a first hand basis, to participate in group meetings and

(ideally) to become an integral member of the research team. Research results are presented to

the class in a symposium at the end of the semester, and as a written lab report.

6.2.25 Human Genetics (72350)

Teacher: Prof. Batsheva Kerem

In the course we discuss modern methodologies in human genetics and updated studies related

to the human genome and human diseases. We cover topics such as genetic mapping and genetic

analysis, human evolution and chromosomal instability. We also discuss the biology of the sex

chromosomes, parental imprinting, stem cell biology, gene therapy and the genetic basis of

cancer. Part of the course is devoted to guided reading of scientific manuscripts that describe

novel studies in human genetics.

6.2.26 Applied Bioinformatics-Workshop (72351)

Teacher: Prof. Michal Linial

A hand on class (4 credit points) for undergraduate and graduate students that provide an intro-

duction for bioinformatics for biologists and end users. The goal of the course is to (i) introduce

and operate a variety of public databases and software tools for bioinformatics, especially in the



field of genomics and proteomics. (ii) Learn how to use commonly used tools appropriately, with

a critical view on their limits and pitfalls. (iii). Learn to evaluate the significance of results of

bioinformatics searches and analyses, and to compare to alternative resources and options. (iv)

Learn to formulate new question based on the results of bioinformatics searches and analyses.

(v) Solving test cases by applying bioinformatics web tools and databases. The types of bio-

logical tasks and data covered in the class will include genome sequence data, protein structure

data, microarray data, and high level of function and networks. Specifically, the topics that are

covered include sequence piarwise alignment, database search engines (BLAST, PSIBLAST),

Major proteomics databases (PIR, UniProtKB, PDB), Retrieval systems (PIR, SRS), Genome

browser (EnsEMBL, UCSC), Annotation resources (KOG, GO, PANDORA), Protein families

and domains (Pfam, EVERET), Expression resources (GEO, ArrayExpress) and more.

6.2.27 Introduction to Neurobiology (72369)

Teachers: Prof. Yarom & Prof. Micha Spira

Neurobiologica research such as: synaptic transmission, network organization, insight into neu-

ronal coding as well as processes of regeneration and degeneration of neuronal elements.

6.2.28 Lab in brain and behavior for psychobiology students (72349)

Teacher: Prof. Ehud Zohary, Prof. Marshall Devor, Prof. Yosef Yarom & Prof. Benyamin

Hochner.

This course is an essential part of the curriculum of the Hebrew University psychobiology stu-

dents (majoring in both Psychology and Biology). The course’s main aim is to expose students

to the various levels of research on the neural basis of behavior in an intensive course, in which

they get a ”hands on experience on how science is being done”. To that aim, we begin with the

study of the Aplysia, a marine mollusk which is a classical model animal to study the neural ele-

ments of learning and memory. The students first learn about and record the electrical properties

of neurons from the Aplysia. Next, they replicate some aspects of the seminal studies by Kan-



del’s group (Nobel prize winner in physiology and Medicine, 2001), showing that elementary

forms of memory (such as habitation to a repeated non-noxious stimulus) arise from changes

in the efficacy of connection between sensory and motor neurons. They then learn about the

macroscopic level of representation in the brain, by carrying out a dissection of the mammalian

brain and understanding basic principles of neuroanatomy. This is accompanied by learning how

to analyze data acquired using advanced non-invasive techniques that can be applied to humans

(functional MRI studies). The data offers a new look on the functional properties of specific

brain areas in the human brain. Finally, in the last day of the course, the students get a chance to

appreciate some of the learned key principles of animal behavior, by observing the behavior of

fish in their natural environment.

This 5 day course is carried out in the Inter-University-Institute in Eilat. The course is

exceptional in that a select group of students ( 25) have constant and intensive interaction with

4 faculty members and 3 teaching assistants that are present during the experiments.

6.2.29 Introduction to Cell Biology (72373)

Teachers: Dr. Benjamin Aroeti, Prof. Micha Spira, Prof. Michael Brandeis, Prof. Yosef Gruen-

baum & Dr. Uri Gat

General description: The aim of this course is to provide a deeper understanding of main themes

in the current field of Cell Biology, which is a major and essential field in biology in general.

The course will focus (amongst others) on molecular and cellular aspects of cell life such as the

structure and function of the cytoskeleton, the cell cycle of normal and transformed cells, the

nucleus environment and way it is built and the mode cells connect and interact to assemble the

different tissues in the body.

6.2.30 Directed Seminar for Etgar students (72390)


1st Semester. Students rotate between representative labs of the institute of Life Sciences. At



each meeting first the PI describes research undertaken in their lab, after which Etgar students

are divided into groups and the research students show their guests what type of research are

they undertaking. Emphasis is put on showing actual experiments and explaining state of the art

technologies. Semester bet. Students choose one tutor and prepare a seminar to be presented at

the end of the semester.

6.2.31 Microbial ecology (72501)


An advanced course in microbial ecology: The function of bacteria in nature; microbial diver-

sity; Culture-dependent and culture-independent methods for the study of bacterial abundance,

diversity and activity in nature; Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis; Aerobic and anaer-

obic metabolism; Anaerobic respiration, fermentation and methanogensis; Chemolithotrophic

life; Microbial life in extreme environments.

6.2.32 Recombinant DNA (72510)

Teachers: Dr. Yehuda Tzfati, Prof. Jacob Hochman, Dr. Amir Eden.

Part I: We will investigate a conserved structural element in telomerase RNA by introducing

disrupting and compensatory mutations into this element in yeast cells, and analyzing their ef-

fects on telomere length by ligation-mediated PCR of telomeres. In addition, we will use strains

knocked-out or over-expressing telomerase proteins to determine the functional interactions of

this RNA element with telomerase proteins. Part II: Mouse Mammary Tumor virus gives rise

to a nucleolar protein derived from the envelope precursor. Using site-directed mutagenesis ,

immunofluorescence and flow cytometry we shall attempt to analyze various functions of this

unique protein. Part III: Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a popular method for analysis

of DNA-protein interactions in-vivo. The students combine ChIP with realtime PCR to study

epigenetic gene silencing in cancer.



6.2.33 Undergraduate seminar: Evolution, Systematics, Ecology, Etgar (72520)

Teacher: Dr. Guy Sella

The Etgar program is directed towards a select group of undergraduate biology students. In this

first year seminar, the students meet with a researcher of their choosing for several weeks, after

which they pick a topic for their seminar. With the guidance of the designated faculty member

they read a number of current research articles and prepare a presentation that they deliver at the

end of the year.

6.2.34 Undergarduate seminar: Cell & Molecular biology (72522)

Teacher: Prof. Jacob Hochman

Oral presentations by the students of topics given each year by members of the Cell & Develop-

mental teaching program.

6.2.35 Undergraduate seminar: Brain & Behavior Sciences (72526)

Teacher: Prof. Shaul Hochstein

Oral presentations by the students of topics given each year by members of the Brain & Behavior

Sciences teaching program.

6.2.36 Undergraduate Psychobiology Seminar (72539)

Teacher: Prof. Marshall Devor

Summary: Course 72539 is the second semester continuation of course 51531 which is taught

in the Department of Psychology on Mt. Scopus. In the first semester, and the beginning of the

second, students are exposed to presentations on a broad variety of topics related to Psychobi-

ology, presented by University faculty members. In the second semester each student presents

an oral seminar on a topic of his/her choice, prepared under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

A scientific research proposal on this topic is presented as a written exercise at the end of the



course. Course aims are to expose students to a broad range of scientific topics within the field of

Psychobiology, to foster critical thinking, and to teach techniques of presenting scientific ideas

in a didactic and interesting manner.

6.2.37 Animal Behavior (72585)

The course presents an integrative approach to the study of animal behavior. This includes

chapters on genes and molecular processes underlying behavior, on endocrine influences on

behavior, and on the neuronal bases of behavior. There is also emphasis on major approaches

for studying the evolution of behavior as well as its adaptive value. The course’s grade is based

on a final exam.

6.2.38 Animal Behavior Experimental Approaches (72586)

In this course the students learn the theoretical principles for designing and performing exper-

iments in animal behavior. These include recording and quantifying behavior, experimental

design, data analyses, and presenting the findings. The students work in small groups and per-

form 2 experiments. The first is designed by the course stuff; the students with the help of the

course stuff design the second, and more advanced experiment. Student grading is based on their

work and submitted oral and written presentations.

6.2.39 Plant Pathogen relationships (72587)

Teacher: Prof. Alex Levine

Plant Interactions with Microorganisms, including pathogenic, saprotphytic and symbiotic in-

teractions. Major plants pathogens: fungi, bacteria and viruses. The course deals with the

mechanisms of pathogen attack and the plant defense mechanisms. Biotrophic and Necrotrophic

pathogens. Virulence and Avirulence genes of pathogenic bacteria and Plant Resistance genes.

Gene-for-Gene hypothesis. Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species, the Oxidative burst and Hy-

persensitive Cell death. Systemic acquired resistance. Signal transduction of pathogenesis and



of defense strategies. The role of hormones. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Host and Rhizobium

genes that regulate nodulation.

6.2.40 Ecology: Advanced Level (72604)

Teachers: Prof. Ronen Kadmon & Prof. Ran Nathan

This is and advanced level course in Ecology. Its main focus is on theoretical and methodologi-

cal aspects of modern ecological research. In the second part of this course, we shall explore the

ecological and evolutionary perspectives of the interactions between the individual organism and

its environment. We shall address questions such as ”how do various environmental factors, for

instance resource availability and other individuals, affect the focal individual?” and ”how does

the focal individual respond to spatiotemporal variation in the environmental factors?” These

questions will be elaborated from two complementary standpoints: what are the expected inter-

actions based on theoretical considerations, and what do we learn from empirical experiments

and observations? We shall proceed to discuss the movement of plants, microorganisms and an-

imals in the context of different adaptive responses of the organism to its environment. Finally,

we shall discuss the causes and mechanisms that generate different movement.

6.2.41 General Endocrinology (72614)

Teachers: Prof. Jacob Hochman & Prof.Joseph Orly

Basic concepts in Endocrinology; Hormone receptors and signal transduction pathways; Hypo-

thalamus-Pituitary and Neuroendocrinology; Steroids and steroidogenesis; Hormones in repro-

duction, development, differentiation and growth; Adrenals: Gluco, and Mineralocorticoids;

Thyroid and Parathyroids; Hormones and blood pressure; Hormones and Cancer; Hormonal

cycles; Psycho-Neuro-Immuno-Endocrinology.



6.2.42 Introduction to Biotechnology (72616)

Teachers: Prof. Shimshon Belkin, Prof. Hagai Ginzburg, Varda Man, Prof. Sergei Braun (Yossi

Hirschberg - Sabbatical)

The course provides undergraduate Life Sciences students with basicconcepts of both basic and

applied aspects of biotechnology. Principles and processes are presented in medical, agricul-

tural, industrial and environmental biotechnology. Examples of biotechnological industries are

presented, with attempts to highlight commercial, business and legal aspects in addition to the

scientific ones.

6.2.43 Biogeography (72617)

?Teacher: Dr. Salit Kark

The course is intended for 2nd and 3rd year students in Life Sciences and will be first taught by

myself this coming semester. It will discuss spatial patterns and processes that shape biologi-

cal diversity, especially at large scales, and covers evolutionary and ecological time scales, the

environmental and geographical setting, fundamental biogeographical processes, evolutionary

history of biotas, ecological biogeography, conservation biogeography and new advances and

frontiers in the area.

6.2.44 General Entomology (72619)

Teacher: Prof. Meir P.Pener

Importance of insects from basic and applied standpoints. Structure and function: head, adap-

tations of mouthparts to way of feeding; thorax, center of insect locomotion, legs and wings

and their mode of functioning; abdomen and external genitalia. Anatomy, microanatomy and

physiology: integument, tracheal system, alimentary canal, circulatory and excretory systems.

Endocrine control of molt and metamorphosis, reproduction, life cycles and eco-physiology of

insects.



6.2.45 Evolution and ecology of birds (72623)

Teacher: Prof. Ran Nathan

This whole-year course aims at (a) discussing fundamental questions in bird evolution, behavior

and ecology, (b) presenting different research approaches in ecology and evolutionary biology

in general, and (c) encouraging a critical quantitative approach for studying birds in particular.

The course includes two 3-day field camps in the Hula Valley (North Israel), one during mid

winter and another in late spring, during which we open a window for the world of birds and the

Israeli avifauna, and get a first-hand experience with all components of a scientific field research,

from the preparation of a research proposal, through the implementation and adjustment of the

methods in the field, to the data analysis and the summary of the work as a paper/report and

an oral presentation in a special conference organized by the students in the last meeting of the

year. The course also includes five 4-hour meetings of frontal lectures to discuss bird evolution,

systematics, biogeography, internal systems and flight, breeding and annual life cycle, social

behavior and foraging ecology, migration and navigation. The course tasks also include a bird

identification exam, a visit to the Jerusalem Bird Ringing station, an exercise in statistical data

analysis, and a final exam.

6.2.46 Neural mechanisms of animal behavior (72625)

Teacher: Prof. Marshall Devor & Prof. Ehud Zohary

This lecture course is designed to expose 3rd year biology students to the field of behavioral

neurobiology (neuroethology,, cognitive neurobiology). The focus is on neural mechanisms

that underlie behavior and perception. Many of the examples discussed are chosen from an-

imal specialists, animals that are evolutionarily adapted to excel at specific tasks. Examples

are echolocation in bats, target localization in owls and electroreception in weakly electric fish.

Motor, perceptual, emotional and cognitive functions in humans are also discussed.



6.2.47 Selected topics in Neurobiology (72633)

Teacher: Prof. Ehud Zohary

This course is designed to provide basic knowledge on exciting recent research carried out in

systems and cognitive neuroscience. Its main emphasis is to introduce students to some ofmost

hotly debated topics in current neuroscience,as well as the latest techniques used to study them.

Topics covered in the course include: nervous system development and adult brain plasticity,

the circadian rhythm and its neural basis, information processing in the sensory pathways (vi-

sual, auditory and olfactory systems), object and face recognition, spatialrepresentations in the

brain, andthe visuomotor mirror system. The course includes a weekly exercise in which stu-

dents discuss a key paper presented at the class, or carry out a lab related to the research topic

discussed.

6.2.48 Plant-environment: Physiology and Molecular Biology (72637)

Teacher: Alex Levine

Plant adaptation to environmental stress. Mechanisms of Stress Perception and of Stress Signal

transduction. The role of plasma membrane in stress tolerance. Lipid signaling, G Proteins and

Calcium as second messengers. Genes that regulate plants responses to adverse environmental

conditions. Oxidative stress, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, Programmed Cell Death.

Methods of studying stress tolerance. Agricultural biotechnology.

6.2.49 Fish Fauna of Israel (72646)

Teacher: Dr. Dani Golani

The course covers general aspects of fishes, such as evolution, anatomy, physiology, reproduc-

tion, behavior and conservation. Special emphasis is placed on local ichthyofauna (Red Sea,

Mediterranean and Israeli freshwater) and their zoogeograpy as well as local issues and factors

such as the influence of the Aswan Dam and the invasion of the Mediterranean by Red Sea



fishes via the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migration). The course includes a field trip in order for

the students to gain first-hand experience with the local ichthyofauna.

6.2.50 Purification & Expression of recombinant protein (72681)

Teachers: Dr. Tsafi Danieli & Dr. Mario Lebendiker

Covered topics in Protein Expression: Principals in expression of recombinant proteins Inno-

vative methods in gene cloning, vector construction and host cells requirements Expression of

recombinant proteins in bacterial cells: Considerations in choosing vector-host combination,

and ways to maximize the bacterial potential and minimize time The insect advantage: Insect

cells based expression systems will include the use of baculovirus as a powerful tool for pro-

tein production and discuss plasmid-based expression of proteins in insect cells. Expression of

proteins in mammalian cells: Principals in transient, stable and virus-induced expression of pro-

teins Cell free expression systems: Applications, advantages, and systems overview. Covered

topics in Protein Purification: Ion exchange, Hydrophobic Exchange, and Gel Filtration Chro-

matography: Main stages in chromatography. Basis for selectivity. Operational considerations.

Determination of start conditions. Parameters for optimization. Other types of chromatographic

procedures. Affinity chromatography: Main stages. Advantages and Disadvantages. Type of

Affinities. Genetically engineered Tags. Cleavage Sites. Designing and preparing an affinity

gel. Protein Purification Strategy: Input for Purification Protocol Development. Guidelines

for Protein Purification. Selection and combination of purification techniques. Major require-

ments for purification of proteins for crystallography and NMR studies. Refolding: Major steps.

Additives that increase yield and prevent aggregation. Protein refolding methods. Screening.

Strategies and examples. The challenge of Membrane protein purification. Main features, use

and removal of detergents. Practical aspects of over-expressing bacterial membrane proteins for

structural studies. Detergents in crystallography



6.2.51 Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes (72683)

Teachers: Dr. Michal Goldberg & Dr. Eran Meshorer

The course focuses on novel aspects of molecular genetics of eukaryotic cells. Topics include

nuclear architecture, chromatin organization and function, chromatin modifications and epige-

netics, telomeres, centromeres, transposons, DNA replication, small RNAs, DNA damage, ge-

netic causes of cancer and cellular senescence.

6.2.52 Evolution (72693)

Teacher: Guy Sella

This is a modern undergraduate course in evolutionary biology. In the course I covers several

basic topics, including: evidence for evolution by decent, population genetics, an introduction

to human evolution, an introduction to molecular evolution,and the evolution of color vision.

Alongside more traditional topics, the course emphasizes the role of mathematical models and

genomic data in the study of evolution.

6.2.53 Quantitative Genetics (72694)

Teachers: Prof. Moshe Soller & Dr. Ariel Darvasi

The course deals with the basic concepts of quantitative genetics and the genetics of complex

traits. These traits are affected by multiple genes and environmental effect. In the course, the

factors and the underlying models and mechanisms that affect these traits will be discussed.

Models describing the genetic architecture of complex and quantitative traits as well as methods

to study the underlying genetic basis are discussed. This include quantitative trait loci (QTL)

mapping in model organisms and agricultural species, and also approached for the identification

of genes affecting common diseases in humans.



6.2.54 Molecular basis for cellular regulation (72730)

Teacher: Dr. Tommer Ravid

This course is given to in order provide an appreciation of our current state of knowledge of

signaling and regulatory mechanisms in eukaryotic cells. This is accomplished by discussing

primary experimental data from original scientific manuscripts. As an exam, the students will

present orally and discuss several aspects of intracellular regulatory mechanisms.

6.2.55 Biochemistry and Physiology of membrane proteins (72812)

Teachers: Prof. S. Schuldiner (Coordinator), Prof. I.T. Arkin, Prof. B.I. Kanner and Prof. Yael

Stern-Bach.

Third year elective course (about 30 students). Genomic sequencing of different organisms

has revealed that about one third of all genes encode membrane proteins having at least one

membrane-spanning helix. This outcome emphasizes the significance of membrane proteins

in many biological processes essential for life. Although the analysis of the structure-function

relationship of these hydrophobic proteins has moved from singular cases towards those with

more broad applications, only few 3D structures exist in databases reflecting the difficulties

in obtaining large amounts of active membrane proteins for functional and structural studies.

Membrane proteins are ideal drug targets since they are often located in the peripheral cell

membrane and are usually essential for survival of the cell or organism through their role in

nutrient uptake, ion balance, signaling, secretion or toxin clearance. The course covers some of

the current topics and methods in membrane protein research.

6.2.56 Fundamentals and Applications of light microscope (72920)

Teachers: Prof. Arieh Weiss, Dr. Naomi Melamed Book, Dr. Eran Meshorer & Dr. Adi Mizrahi

The course deals with: Optical Background, Transmitted Light Microscopy, Fluorescence Mi-

croscopy, Image Acquisition, Confocal Microscopy, Multi Photon, FRAP, TIRF, FRET, Image



Processing, FLIM/FCS, NSOM, Micro-Injection, Super Resolution Methods and Microscopy

Applications.

6.2.57 Quantitative methods in marine ecology (73545) (90610)

Teachers: Prof. Amatzia Genin & Dr. Moshe Kiflawi from Ben Gurion University).

An inter-university course, The course consists of the teaching and application of various meth-

ods for quantifying and characterizing the distribution patterns, species composition and rela-

tionships between populations and environmental factors, from the level of a single population

through community structure. The course consists of lectures, computerized simulations using

EcoBeaker, field sampling, and the analyses of the measurements using statistical software and

the Primer community analysis software package.

6.2.58 Seminar for Computational Biology and Life Science (76550)

Teachers: Prof. Michal Linial, Prof. Nir Friedman, Prof. Hanah Margalit

Advanced Seminar in Computational Biology The subject of the course is a set of classical

articles that contain fundamental contributions to bioinformatics and to the developing fields

of computational biology. This includes papers describing results or novel approaches and that

covers a broad range of research topics. All students read the given review article and 2-3

scientific papers before the meeting. A student (or pair) will be responsible for presenting the

articles. The meeting is used for a critical discussion. The students get guidance throughout to

prepare their presentation. The topics cover Comparative Genomics, Protein-protein interaction

networks, gene expression, regulatory networks, protein folding and design, protein function

prediction, large scale genomic methodologies.

6.2.59 Plankton (76701)

Teachers: Prof. Amatzia Genin & Dr. Bracha Farstei from the Interuniversity Institute of Marine

Sciences of Eilat.



An inter-university course, In this course the students learn the identification and basic biology of

the key groups on marine plankton, including crustacean, chaetognaths, mollusks, coelenterates,

foraminifera, radiolarian, and tunicates. The course consists of lectures, laboratories and a field

project.

6.2.60 Marine microbiology (76716)


An advanced, practical course in marine microbial ecology; Lectures on different aspects of the

life of microorganisms in saline and hypersaline environments; A research cruise on the Gulf of

Aqaba and assessment of microbiologically relevant parameters in the sea; Research projects on

different aspects of prokaryotes and their function in the marine system.

6.2.61 Functional Genomics (76880)

Teacher: Prof. Nissim Benvenisty

In this course we review updated methodologies in genomics, expression profiling, proteomics

and bioinformatics. We also discuss the use of these methodologies in studying development

and disease. In the laboratory the students use sophisticated DNA microarrays. At the end of

the course the students utilize the data, gathered during the course, to address specific biological

questions.

6.2.62 Seminar in Developmental Genetics (86838)

The graduate-level seminar has 3 objectives (1) learn about recent updates in developmental

biology, genetics, stem cells etc. (2) teach strategies of focused and non-fox used literature

updates (3) learn and the principle of a good scientific presentation via practicing and feedback.

Each student has to identify a top notch recent paper, to prepare a presentation and to presents

it. Critical discussion is being held to analyze both the scientific findings and the presentation

per se.



6.2.63 Selected Topics in Protein Targeting and Cell Cycle (86875)

Teachers: Dr. Benjamin Aroeti & Prof. Michael Brandeis

Time: Msc and PhD students, Term B. Lectures are given once a week, 2 hrs per week. To-

tal credit: 2 points. The course is aimed at Ph.D. and Msc students, teaching them advanced

material on membrane trafficking, cell cycle and the connections between these important cel-

lular processes at the molecular level. The course covers the following broad topics: 1) General

Principles of intracellular trafficking. 2) The molecular mechanisms underlying clathrin and

COP-mediated trafficking. 3) Introduction to the cell cycle. 4) The mechanisms that control cell

cycle and the inter-relations between them and mechanisms that regulate membrane trafficking.

6.2.64 MSc. Seminar in cellular and developmental biology (86890)

In this course MSc. students who study in the Developmental and cellular biology program

present two seminars. In the first they present a topic in cell biology or development based on

literature. In the second seminar they summarize their own MSc. research.

6.2.65 Physiology of the nervous system A (76900)

Teacher: Prof. Israel Nelken & Prof. Marshall Devor

This is the first of two courses teaching advanced physiology of the nervous system to graduate

students. The course covers principle of organization of the nervous system, principles of sen-

sory physiology, detailed study of the somatosensory, visual and auditory systems, principles of

motor systems, and the motor system from the muscle through the spinal chord and up to the

motor cortex, including the role of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. Students are required to

cover a substantial amount of this material by reading, while in class the discussion emphasizes

state-of-the-art results.



6.2.66 Central Nervous System Physiology (76901)

Teacher: Dr. Adi Mizrahi

The course is a composed of lectures and student seminars on advanced topics in systems neu-

roscience. Topics that are discussed include sensory systems, motor systems and learning and

memory.

6.2.67 Selected topics in cerebellum research (78818)

Teacher: Prof. Yosef Yarom

The course covers the study of the Cerebellum from the level of the single cel properties to

Behavior.

6.2.68 Graduate seminar in Brain Sciences & Behaviour (78844)

Teacher: Dr. Adi Mizrahi

The course is a guided student seminar course. Each graduate student is presenting a seminar on

a recent scientific topic primarily outside his/her immediate scientific field.

6.2.69 The theory and practice of neural data analysis (78891)

Teacher: Prof. Israel Nelken

(given on alternate years) This is an advanced graduate-level course in data analysis. The basic

approach of the course is to consider data analysis as variability decomposition the description

of the data in terms of sources of variability. The theory of stochastic processes leads to the

understanding of frequency decomposition of stationary processes as variability decomposition,

with applications to filtering. The general linear model is used as a unifying framework for

regression and analysis of variance. Finally, information-theoretic approaches using entropy

and mutual information are used as an illustration of more advanced techniques.



6.2.70 Genetic Analysis A (88815)

Teacher: Prof. Rafi Falk

Chromosome and chromatin structure and function (88849) Teachers: Dr. Yehuda Tzfati, Dr.

Amir Eden & Dr. Carmelit Richler This advanced course for graduate students will discuss in

depth topics in chromatin structure and function at the molecular level. In particular, we will

study the roles of chromatin structure in DNA replication and repair, transcription, chromosome

segregation, and genome stability. Attention will be given to special chromosomal regions such

as telomeres, centromeres, and sex chromosomes. During the course, the students will design a

research project relevant to subject of the course and present it as a short talk and as a written

fellowship proposal.

6.2.71 Graduate seminar in Genetics (88890)

The Graduate Seminar in Genetics, course 88890 aims to discuss different major topics in Ge-

netics. Each student chooses a genetic theme, studies it under the supervision of a member of

the Department of Genetics and presents the subject to the class.

6.2.72 Bacteria in their natural environment (89305)


An elementary course in microbiology and microbial ecology for students without background

in biology: The nature of the prokaryotic cell; microbial nutrition; microbial metabolism and

bioenergetics; methods to study microbial activity in nature; the role of microorganisms in the

biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and other elements; Microbial life in extreme

environments.



6.2.73 Introduction to Environmental Quality Sciences (89309)

Teaches: Prof. Shimshon Belkin and Prof. Menachem Luria (course coordinator; Inst. of Earth

Sciences)

Designed mostly for undergraduate Environmental Studies students, the course provides a broad

overview ofboth basic and applied aspects of ”environmental quality”. Topics include air, water

and soil pollution issues, remediation technologies, treatment of water and wastewater, solidand

toxic wastes, and environmental toxicology.

6.2.74 Environmental Microbiology (89777)

Teacher: Prof. Shimshon Belkin

The course, aimed at M.Sc.-level and advanced undergraduate students from the Life Sciences

and Environmental Studies program, discusses the roles microorganisms play in the cycling of

the elements, the interactions of bacteriawith their environments and between microbial popula-

tions,microbial water and wastewater qualityissues, analysis of microbial population structures

and bacterial stress responses.

6.2.75 Animal Evolution (90106)

This is a graduate level course that covers the evolution of the animal kingdom, starting from

the Precambrian, through the Cambrian explosion and the appearance of all animal phyla. The

course then traces key events in the evolution of the biosphere, including major extinctions and

radiations, the transition to land, and the appearance of the modern world. The historical narra-

tive will be used to demonstrate important principles, terminology and methods in evolutionary

biology ranging from paleontology and functional morphology, through systematics and cladis-

tics, and up to molecular analyses and comparative embryology. The course includes frontal

lectures, student seminars and demonstration of paleontological and histological material.



6.2.76 Topics in ecology: Undergraduate seminar (90604)

Teacher: Prof. Ronen Kadmon

This is the ecology option of the seminar that each student needs to take during the third year of

the B.Sc. studies in Biology.

6.2.77 Evolutionary Biology and Game Theory (90612)

Teachers: Prof. Sergiu Hart, Prof. Uzi Motro

A Graduate Course In the course we discuss topics that involve both evolutionary biology and

game theory, such as equilibrium and evolutionary stability, evolutionary dynamics, Stochastic

stability, communication and signaling.

6.2.78 Scientific approaches in ecology (90710)

Teacher: Prof. Ronen Kadmon & Prof. Amatzia Genin

This is a methodologically-oriented course designed mainly for students interested in continuing

their studies in Ecology. Students learn are are exposued to the main elements of theoretical,

experimental, and observational studies in ecology.

6.2.79 Conservation Ecology (90820)

?Teacher: Dr. Salit Kark

This course is intended for MSc students, and is also open for final year BSc students. The

students come from diverse backgrounds, including Life sciences, Environmental Sciences,

Environmental Biotechnology, Geography, Science Teaching and Education, and others. The

coursediscusses conservation biology in theory and in practice, from the population to the

ecosystem levels, and covers topics such as: conservation genetics, demography and conserva-

tion, metapopulations and conservation, conservation targets and planning, conservation at the

species and at the individual levels, status, and gives special emphasis to conservation in Israel,



with two field trips that present examples of conservation conflicts and real world conservation

issues in the field. ?

6.2.80 NMR (92619)

Teacher: Dr. Debbie Shalev & Prof. Oded Livnah

The course gives the theoretical and experimental background for deriving peptide and protein

structures by NMR. The course is given in workshop form, during which the students process

raw NMR data, assign peptide spectra, derive distance restraints, and use distance geometry and

simulated annealing to obtain an ensemble of structures describing the conformational space

of the peptide. The structural data are analyzed for secondary structural elements and struc-

tural statistics, and the electrostatic binding potential of a low-energy structure is calculated and

analyzed.

6.2.81 Molecular physiology and biochemistry of transport systems (92620)

Teachers: Prof. Yael Stern-Bach (Coordinator), Prof. B.I. Kanner and Prof. S. Schuldiner.

Advanced elective course for M.Sc. and Ph. D. students (about 10-15 students). Taught every

second year. The course deals with selected topics presented by the teachers or by invited guests.

Students participate actively and present tutorials.

6.2.82 Protein Design and Evolution (92623)

Teacher: Dr. Yulia Shifman

The course is designed for M. Sc. and Ph. D. students Monday 9:00 am -11:45 am; semester bet,

3 points Protein design and directed evolution are two complimentary approaches that allow us

to obtain proteins with a desired structure and/or function. While protein design is a top-down

approach where proteins are tamed rationally using computers or site-directed mutagenesis, di-

rected evolution is a bottom-up design strategy that allows us to select proteins with improved

properties. In the course, we will review the principles of protein structure and folding, go over



the existing methods in protein design and evolution, examine the first fundamental discover-

ies in the field, and finally discuss the most recent research directed at improving functional

properties of proteins.

At the end of the course students are required to prepare a 30-minute oral presentation on

one of the current research topics in the field and to summarize their presentation in writing.

6.2.83 Separation methods in Biochemistry (92812)

Teachers: Prof. Yoram Milner, Dr. David Harmatz

Electrophoresis (EL) as a major analytical tool and the new proteonomic ”games”. Gel filtration

(permeation) chromatography (GFC)-the general parameters of chromotography. Filtration and

filters’ based adsorption methods. Mass spectroscopy as a method for protein/peptides analy-

sis. Ion exchange chromatography (IExC) Absorption chromatography (Ab.C). Affinity chro-

matography (AC). Immunological methods in separation and determination. Proteonomic and

Functional Genomics The centrifugation as preparative and analytical separation method DR.

D. HARMATZ Radioisotops their use in biological systems. Spectroscopy, fluorimetry, flow

cytometry and image analysis. Genomics and practical genomics: Modern trends

6.2.84 Molecular processes in the brain (92842)

Teachers: Dr. Nissim Ben-Arie and Prof. Michal Linial

This advanced level course is aimed at providing knowledge and comprehension of molecular,

biochemical and developmental processes taking place in the nervous system. We will focus on

two topics: the establishment and the function of the neural synapse and the molecular basis of

olfaction, the sense of smell.

6.2.85 Biochemistry and Physiology of transition metals (92848)

Prof. Ioav Cabantchik (On Sabattical this year)

The course is designed to provide the structural, functional and genetic basis for understanding



biological functions that depend on specific transition metals (e.g. iron, copper and zinc). The

themes that will be dealt are the chemical properties of metals and metalloproteins, the involve-

ment of metals in enzymatic reactions, the toxicity of metals with emphasis on free radical and

ROS formation, cellular defenses against ROS, homeostasis of metals at cell and organism lev-

els, dyshomeostasis and disease, inherited disorders of metals, metals and nutrition, The course

will be comprised of formal lectures and weekly reading and discussion of selected papers (pros-

eminar).

6.2.86 Structural Analysis of protein structure (92849)

Teacher: Prof. Oded Livnah

The course provided a hands-on workshop for graduate students(preferably from non structurally

related research groups) on the basics of protein structure analysis.In this context, the course in-

cludes theoretical lectureson proteinstructureas well aspracticalapproaches of databasessearch-

esand available molecular graphics viewing and analysis software. The studentshave to submita

paper describing their project (either selected by them orthe teachers). Acceptance to the course

requires an interview.

6.2.87 Research seminar in Biochemistry (92981)

Teacher: Prof. Daphne Atlas

A weekly seminar of MSc and PhD students of the department Biological Chemistry

6.2.88 Biotechnology Seminar (94707)

Teacher: Prof. Shimshon Belkin

The course provides an opportunity to students of the Inter-faculty Biotechnology M.Sc. pro-

gram to study in depth a research-related biotechnology topic that is usually not covered in the

course of the regular curriculum. The study is presented in the form of an oral seminar, following

which the topic is discussed by the class.



Table 6.1: Courses Relating to Animal Sciences taught at the Alexander Silberman Institute ofLife Sciences.

Le

ve

l y

ea

r S

em

es

ter

Co

urs

e

sy

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4

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13

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2,3

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7

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ter

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M

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hi A

di

Ho

ch

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in

Sh

au

l

BS

c

3

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66

5

Imm

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3

co

urs

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42

4

n

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7

8

Ba

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M

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Da

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lecu

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Ge

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uka

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ctive

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n

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ne

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7

Go

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ich

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Pro

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urs

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10

5

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7

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06

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10

8

an

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23

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no

ne

7

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Be

n A

rie

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itra

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ua

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6.3. Student information

6.3 Student information

As mentioned above, the Life Science Institute educates about 700 B.Sc. students each year. The

aim of the undergraduate program is a degree in life sciences.

The program at the Life Sciences Institute provides the students with basic knowledge in a

wide range of topics related to biology: molecular biology, cellular biology, organisms, environ-

mental biology, evolution-systematic-ecology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, neurobiol-

ogy and plant sciences.

Each year, approximately 250 students join our B.Sc. program. A criterion for acceptance

into this program is an average grade of 20.25 (out of 29). During the last five years, the average

grade range was 20.50± 0.25.

During the three years of study towards the B.Sc. degree, the students have mandatory

courses that cover all the above-mentioned topics. They also have elective courses that they

take during the last three semesters geared toward the field they are interested in learning. There

are approximately 100 elective courses.

Most of the students that start the B.Sc. program finish after three years. There are some

who spread out their courses during a four year period. Because there is such a wide variety of

topics in biology being taught in this program, catering to the diverse interests in biology, we

notice that there is a very low number of students who do not get their degree.

In Tables 6.13-6.16 we provide the list of our current M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. In Ta-

bles 6.17-6.20 are listed our M.Sc. and Ph.D. students that have graduated since 2004.



Table 6.10: Statistics of undergraduate students including number of students obtaining a B.Sc.degree and their grade point average.

Year Number of B.Sc. Degrees Average Grade2003 197 N.A.2004 216 86.492005 207 87.292006 186 86.182007 187 86.73

Table 6.11: Statistics on registered and accepted first year B.Sc. students in the general biology(Life sciences) program according to year.

Year 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002Applicants 965 982 1099 1424 1449 1289 1366Accepted 435 418 416 503 539 469 551Registered 165 187 139 188 188 194 243



Table 6.12: Statistics on averages of high school grades of accepted and registered first yearB.Sc. students in biology, according to year. The high school matriculation ranges from 0–12,while the psychometric test results range reach up to 800. Note that averages of accepted stu-dents are generally higher than the averages of registered students since those that were acceptedto the medical school (as their first preference) and did not register in the end to biology, usuallyhave a higher grades. Since 2007 there was a lower average in psychometric and high schoolmatriculation (“bagrut”) grades because applicants to the Chemistry-Biology program have aseparate registration, and this program has higher acceptance criteria.

Group Year2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Accepted B.Sc. Average 10.59 10.54 10.61 10.55 10.43 10.35 10.23Stdev. 0.44 0.47 0.44 0.42 0.42 0.44 0.46

Number 379 359 362 434 467 414 466Psycho- Average 675.7 669.3 675.8 673.4 675.6 668.2 661.8biology Stdev. 50.1 49.8 48.3 48.3 47.2 53.1 57.0

Number 114 104 118 92 116 128 132Registered B.Sc. Average 10.49 10.45 10.61 10.51 10.40 10.29 10.20

Stdev. 0.43 0.45 0.44 0.43 0.42 0.41 0.47Number 140 148 118 146 148 171 196

Psycho Average 672.6 661.5 667.9 664.3 672.4 665.3 655.3-biology Stdev. 51.9 48.8 19.3 47.6 0.39 51.9 58.7

Number 37 38 37 31 33 48 42Percentage of dropout 16 13 15 10 18 15

Number of accepted for B.Sc. degree 144 173 189 206 187 159



Table 6.13: Current Ph.D. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the Alexander Sil-berman Institute of Life Sciences.

Name Supervisor Year Started

B.Sc. Grade

M.Sc. Grade

Topic of Research

1 Ana Trakhtenbrot

Ran Natan 2003 93.87 99 Fragmentation and dispersal in plant populations.

2 Shai Einbinder

Dan Tchernov

2005 88.58 91 The deep reef community and its physiological adaptations

3 Ofer Steinitz Ran Natan 2003 92.71 97 Factors determining the genetic structure of natural Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) populations.

4 Tali Mass Amatzia Genin

2007 Direct Ph.D

Effects of flow on corals

5 Nir Sapir Ran Natan 2002 Direct Ph.D

Integrating high-resolution radio telemetry and atmospheric numerical model to study European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) migration over southern Israel.

6 Asaf Tsoar Ran Natan 2004 95 Seed dispersal by the Egyptian fruit-bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment

7 Yoav Motro Ran Natan 2002 85.23 Direct Ph.D

Regulation of rodent populations by barn owls and its effects on agricultural yield

8 Yair Shemash

Guy Bloch 2003 85.47 93.03 The molecular bases of socially-mediated plasticity in circadian rhythms in the honey bee Apis mellifera.

9 Hagai Shpigler

Guy Bloch 2007 93.17 92.47 The insulin/ insulin-like pathway and size-related division of labor in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris.

10 Orr Shpiegel Ran Natan 2006 94.69 97 Movement ecology of foraging vultures

11 Ada Eben Guy Bloch 2007 90.02 Direct Ph.D

Social regulation of sleep-like behavior in honey bees.

12 Omri Allouche

Ronen Kadmon

2007 95.22 Direct Ph.D

Developing a demographically-based theory of species diversity (62).

13 Hagit Kivit Dan Tchernov

2007 87.97 94 The molecular mechanism of coral apoptosis

14 Baraka Kuguru

Dan Tchernov

2005 The light adaptation and acclimation of Coralimorpharians in the gulf of Eilat.

15 Tal Seifan Uzi Motro 2002 94.63 95 Long-term influences of decision-making: Plant-pollinator interactions and their outcomes.

16 Michal Arbily

Uzi Motro 2007 Theoretical models in the evolution of learning behavior

17 Sue Frumin Ran Natan 2005 Gene flow by dispersal in inbreeding annuals of the Poaceae.



Table 6.14: Current Ph.D. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the Alexander Sil-berman Institute of Life Sciences. Continuation of Table 6.13.


B.Sc. Grade

M.Sc. Grade

Topic of Research

18 Eran Brokovich

Salit Kark 2006 The role of ecological gradients in shaping fish diversity in the Red Sea. Bathymetrical distribution of coral reef fishes: patterns and processes.

19 Ohad Hatzofe

Salit Kark 2007 The griffon vulture in the Mediterranean Basin: a metapopulation analysis.

20 Maya Shvartsman

Ioav Cabantchik

2006 86.89 97.72 The mechanisms of iron delivery to mitochondria

21 Tal Shomrat Benny Hochner


Neurobiology of learning and memory in the octopus.

22 Ari Meerson Hermona Soreq


Stress – induced changes in microRNA and alternative splicing configurations in brain and blood cells.

23 Erez Podoly Hermona Soreq

2003 86.02 95.10 Exploring the Role of Disordered Regions in structural Transitions Associated with Intracellular Signaling.

24 Deborah Toiber

Hermona Soreq


Alternative Splicing as a regulatory mechanism in brain functioning.

25 Tama Evron Hermona Soreq


Neuromuscular Consequences of Gain and Loss of Acetylcholinesterase Functioning.

26 Sohn Yun Yang

Ioav Cabantchik

2006 Mechanisms of iron relocation in cells.

27 Ron Weiss Sebastian Kadener

2008 90 91 *

28 Dina Moshitch

Israel Nelken


Binaural processing in the ascending auditory pathways

29 Mor Nahum Israel Nelken

2003 96.33 94.32 The auditory reverse hierarchy theory in perception and perceptual learning

30 Nevo Taaseh Israel Nelken

2003 The cellular basis of pre-attentive evoked pontetials

31 Jonathan Rubin

Israel Nelken

2005 Adaptation in the auditory system

32 Roi Klipper Israel Nelken


Learning complex neural representations using distance function learning.

33 Gilad Jacobson

Yosef Yarom




Table 6.15: Current M.Sc. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the Alexander Sil-berman Institute of Life Sciences.


B.Sc. Grade

Topic of Research

1 Igal Bernstein

Amatzia Genin

2007 Nocturnal ventilation of corals by fish – do the fish ever sleep?

2 Itai Shanni Ran Natan 2008 Migration and stopover of Cranes in Hula Valley

3 Ronen Ron Ronen Kadmon

2006 92.87 Effects of productivity, disturbance, and habitat heterogeneity on the diversity of ecological communities.

4 Eldad Saragosti

Dan Tchernov 2007 radical oxygen species accumulation in corals.

5 Roi Vaknin Amatzia Genin

2007 91.56 Ecology and biomechanics of planktivorous fish.

6 Oded Liran Dan Tchernov 2008 Caspase role in hermatypic corals apoptosis mechanism

7 Yaniv Blumenfeld

Dan Tchernov 2008 Coral and symbiont mass energy fluxes: does the coral reduce the symbiotic algae photosystem?

8 Noah Ben-Aderet

Dan Tchernov 2007 cleractinian corals resilience to decreased ocean pH

9 Stephanie Cohen

Dan Tchernov 2007 Calcification under ocean acidification conditions

10 Itai Lachmi Joseph Heller 2006 11 Nir

Horovitz Ran Natan 2006 Effects of atmospheric conditions on

migrating birds 12 Ron Weiss Guy Bloch 2006 91 The expression of the neuropeptide

Pigment Dispersing Factor in Foragers and Nurses in Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris L).

13 Sameh Darawshi

Uzi Motro 2004 80.82 Aggregation, movement dynamics and feeding habits of the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in relation to human agricultural activities in the Judean Hills”.

14 Rut Hhait Amatzia Genin

2007 91.70 Diel feeding pattern in herbivorous coral-reef fishes

15 Jonathan Ben-David

Ariel Chipman

2007 93.24 Blastoderm patterning in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus.

16 Ahmed Abu-Ras

Joseph Heller 2005 81.65

17 Oren Kolodny

Guy Sella 2008 90.73 thesis topic has not yet been defined

18 Etam Benger

Guy Sella 2007 thesis topic has not yet been defined

19 David Shohami

Ran Natan 2007 92.26 Effects of fire on pine spatial genetic structure

20 Eyal Elyashiv

Guy Sella 2006 Variation in the intensity of purifying selection: An analysis of genome-wide polymorphism data from two closely related Yeast species.



Table 6.16: Current M.Sc. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the Alexander Sil-berman Institute of Life Sciences. Continuation of Table 6.15.


B.Sc. Grade

Topic of Research

21 Ravid Sachar

Guy Bloch 2006 88.61 The neuroanatomical organization of the honey bee clock.

22 Noa Kahana

Guy Bloch 2006 The function of the neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing Factor in the circadian system of bees.

23 Zohar Zangi Nahar

Joseph Heller 2007

24 Tamar Gutnick

Benny Hochner

2006 86.75 Neurophysiology of octopus and cuttlefish learning and memory systems.

25 Hadas Eichenstein

Benny Hochner

2005 Electrophysiology of the octopus neuromuscular system.

26 Zohar Tal Yosef Yarom 2006 94.40 27 Sara

Greenwood Benny

Hochner 2007 The role of neuromodulators in learning

and memory of the octopus.

28 Shlomi Hanassi

Benny Hochner

2005 Reaching Movements of the Octopus Involve both Bend Propagation and Arm Elongation.

29 Galit Ovadia

Sagiv Shifman

2008 The genetic variation of reelin expression in schizophrenia.

30 Mor Hamami

Ariel Darvasi 2006 Discovering Telomere Length Associated Genes through Whole Genome Association Study.

31 Odelia Shayevitz

Israel Nelken 2007 93.13 Statistical characterization of natural sound ensembles.



Table 6.17: Graduated Ph.D. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the AlexanderSilberman Institute of Life Sciences.

Name Supervisor Year graduated Topic of Research 1 Inna Sukhotinski Marshall Devor 2006 Brainstem mechanisms for loss of

consciousness 2 Ester Lachman Joseph Heller 2007 Factors affecting population

dynamics of land snails following a wildfire.

3 Adiv Gal Uzi Motro 2007 Decision making under different environmental conditions during nesting in the Lesser Kestrel.

4 Roi Holtzman Amatzia Genin 2007 Nocturnal interactions between fishes and zooplankton over coral reefs.

5 Ruth Yahel Amatzia Genin 2004 The distribution of zooplankton and large suspended particulate matter over coral reefs: spatio-temporal variations and controlling mechanisms.

6 Miriam Belmeker Uzi Motro 2005 Mammalian community structure through time: 'Ubediya (a Lower Pleistocene site) as a case study.

7 Frida Ben-Ami Joseph Heller 2005 PARTHERNOGENESIS VERSUAL SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN THE SNAIL MELANOIDES TUBERCULUTA.

8 Merav Seifan Ronen Kadmon 2005 Interactions between shrubs and herbaceous plants in Mediterranean grazing systems.

9 Yael Tieberger Ronen Kadmon 2004 Spatial and temporal recovery patterns of perennial plants on desert sand dunes.

10 Orna Reisman Ronen Kadmon 2004 Mechanisms controlling spatio-temporal dynamics of shrubland patchiness: the case study of Sarcopoterium spinosum.

11 Svetlana Rickel Amatzia Genin 2005 Foraging in the flow: adaptations and limitations of planktivory in coral-reef fishes.

12 Silvina Epstein Ioav Cabantchik 2005 The labile iron pool of mammalian cells.

13 Nachum Ulanovsky

Israel Nelken 2004 Adaptation in the cat auditory cortex.

141 Liora Las

Israel Nelken 2006 The relationships between physiological properties, projection targets and morphology of neurons in auditory cortex.

15 Ella H. Sklan Hermona Soreq 2004 Alternative splicing contributions to the behavioral implications of imbalanced cholinergic neurotransmission.



Table 6.18: Graduated Ph.D. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the AlexanderSilberman Institute of Life Sciences. Continuation of Table 6.17.

Name Supervisor Year graduated Topic of Research 16 Chava Perry Hermona Soreq 2004 Molecular mechanisms

Underlying Acetylcholinesterase-Associated Tumorogenesis.

17 Sagiv Shifman Ariel Darvasi 2004 Association Analysis for the Genetic Dissection of Complex traits – Schizophrenia as a Model.

18 Ester Inbar Ariel Darvasi 2005 Application of Haplotypes as a Tool for Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits.

19 Yuval Sapir Avi Shmida 2005 Pollination Ecology of Royal Irises – Iris Sec. Oncocyclus.

20 Noa Sagiv Yosef Yarom 2004 21 Yonathan

Loewenstein Yosef Yarom 2005 The Olivo-Cerebellar System:

Dynamical Processes and Computational Principles.

22 Edith Chorev Yosef Yarom 2006



Table 6.19: Graduated M.Sc. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the AlexanderSilberman Institute of Life Sciences.

Name Supervisor Year

graduated Topic of Research

1 Oded Levanoni Salit Kark 2007 The role of altitudinal gradients and human impact in shaping butterfly diversity in Mt. Hermon: a comparison of field, GIS and remote sensing approaches.

2 Yotam Orchan Salit Kark 2007 Interactions among invasive birds and their effect on establishment: an experimental study.

3 Assaf Schwartz Salit Kark 2007 Patterns and processes shaping the success of urban and invasive alien birds.

4 Gilad Bino Salit Kark 2007 Temporal and numerical response of the Golden jackal and Red fox to a manipulation in resources.

5 Orit Nir Salit Kark 2006 Changes in the coral Seriatopora hystrix along the depth gradient from its shallow to its deep distribution range in the Gulf of Eilat.

6 Oded Levanoni Salit Kark 2007 The role of altitudinal gradients and human impact in shaping butterfly diversity in Mt. Hermon: a comparison of field, GIS and remote sensing approaches.

7 Nurit Guthrie Uzi Motro 2007 Mobbing: Persuading the predator to leave, or gaining prestige? – Mathematical models for these two alternatives.

8 Orli Bobek Uzi Motro 2005 The role of nest-site micro-climatic conditions and parents experience on nesting success in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni).

9 David Troupin Ran Natan 2005 Genetic structure and seed dispersal in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis).

10 Tal Avgar Ran Natan 2007 Consequences of ant foraging behavior on plant recruitment patterns.

11 Luba Broitman Ran Natan 2007 Spatially-explicit models of seed dispersal by animals.

12 Elad Rubin Guy Bloch 2005 The molecular characteristics of the circadian clock in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

13 Avital Kayam Guy Bloch 2006 Social influence on the development of circadian rhythms in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).

14 Shai Yerushalmi Guy Bloch 2004 Division of labor and chronobiological plasticity in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris.

15 Ruthi Motro Amatzia Genin 2004 Near-bottom depletion of zooplankton over coral reefs: predation present or ghost of predation past?

16 Rotem Goldshmid Amatzia Genin 2004 Aeration of corals by sleep-swimming fish – the dark side of fish-coral symbiosis.

17 Tali Cohen Ioav Cabantchik 2005 Iron uptake into macrophages and its intracellular processing.



Table 6.20: Graduated M.Sc. students in fields Relating to Animal Sciences at the AlexanderSilberman Institute of Life Sciences. Continuation of Table 6.19.

Name Supervisor Year

graduated Topic of Research

18 Rinat Ben-El Ioav Cabantchik 2006 The labile iron pool of primary cardiomyocytes as revealed with novel metal sensors.

19 Gilad Radai Adi Mizrahi 2007 Towards a genetically encode calcium indicator for in vivo imaging.

20 Ran Avni Hermona Soreq 2007 MicroRNAs Act as Mediators in the Cholinergic Brain-Body Communication.

21 Boris Bryk Hermona Soreq 2004 Inherited and Acquired Interactions between ACHE and PON1 Polymorphisms Modulate Plasma Acetylcholinesterase and Paraoxonase Activities.

22 Kalish-Sadeh Adi Avi Shmida 2007 Pollination Ecology of Xylocopa pubescens.

23 Amit Gilad Ariel Darvasi 2004 Genome-scan for the Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Involved in Neuropathic Pain in Mice.

24 Adi Woltz Ariel Darvasi 2005 High Density SNP Information as Revealed by the HapMap Project and its Application to Whole Genome Association Scans.

25 Michal Arbilly Ariel Darvasi 2005 An Integrative Approach to Map Genes Affecting Complex Traits: Application to Neuropathic Pain in a Mouse Model.

26 Chagai Shpigler Ariel Darvasi 2007 Fine Mapping of pain1, QTL Associated with Sensitivity to Neuropathic Pain in Mice.


Chapter 7

Infrastructure

7.1 Teaching Facilities Infrastructure

7.1.1 Teaching Laboratories

Life sciences laboratory courses are held in the teaching laboratories building, which serves the

Institute of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics as well. Available to us are six student labo-

ratories covering 300 m2. In addition there are temperature rooms, storage rooms, preparation

rooms, a heavy instrumentation room and a seminar room covering 200 m2. The lab equip-

ment includes standard instruments (balances, pH-meters, stirrers, hot bathes, dry temperature

blocks, pippetors, dispensers, small bench centrifuges, etc.) as well as over 100 microscopes,

over 100 binoculars, 5 cameras for photography of microscope slides connected to 5 closed cir-

cuit TVs, temperature-controlled orbital shakers, spectrophotometers, PCR instruments, several

DNA and protein gel apparati + power supply units, a gel documentation system, a gel dryer,

large refrigerated centrifuges, incubators, a scintillation counter, an autoclave, etc.

7.1.2 Collections of Biological Specimen for Teaching & Research

The teaching laboratories collections of biological specimen comprise thousands of microscope

slides, hundreds of photo slides, tens of stuffed birds, several skeletons, etc. The botanic mi-

186

7.1. Teaching Facilities Infrastructure

croscope slides collection contains over 1000 slides, encompassing different sections of various

tissues from a multitude of upper and lower plants. Also available for teaching is the Herbarium

collection of the Hebrew University.

7.1.3 Computer Classes

Computer tutorials are usually held in the Berel Ginges Computer Centre. The centre contains

four classes with 99 workstations. In addition 90 workstations are available all day long for

individual use. Eight of these are multimedia work stations. The Alexander Silberman Institute

of Life Sciences houses two additional computer classes with 47 workstations.

7.1.4 E-learning

TeachLine - http://teachline.ls.huji.ac.il/ The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences

maintains its own e-learning portal - “Teachline”. Currently TeachLine offers about 120 web

sites for courses taught in the Institute. Each course site offers course material developed by the

Hebrew University staff and further enrichment compiled from all over cyberspace. Course sites

may include:

• Lecture Notes

• Required reading (papers , textbooks & their web companion sites)

• Weekly assignments

• Lab materials (protocols, results, guidelines for analysis).

• Interactive computer tutorials simulating lab work1.

• Subject related materials with special emphasis on animations, simulations & interactive

models of molecules.1Look also at: http://teachline.ls.huji.ac.il/virtual lab.html.


7.2. Research Infrastructure

• Practice quizzes.

• Useful databases & software related to the course material and in frequent use by the

scientific community.

• Additional means to search the web efficiently. Other than course sites, the TeachLine

portal offers additional resources aimed at expanding the availability of on-line interactive

teaching aids.

• A compilation of textbooks’ web companion sites that can be searched by topics or by

keywords (http://teachline.ls.huji.ac.il/general/textbooks-sites.htm)

• The BioSearch Database (http://biosearch.huji.ac.il/ ) - a joint project of the Alexander

Silberman Institute of Life Sciences and the Computation Authority of the Hebrew Uni-

versity of Jerusalem.

7.1.5 BioSearch Database - http://biosearch.huji.ac.il/

The BioSearch database comprises links to different types of teaching and learning resources

and sites of general interest in the area of Life Sciences at the undergraduate or graduate level.

BioSearch allows one to search by standard keywords along with additional criteria like resource

type (emphasizing those that are particularly web-oriented) and peer evaluation score. This

database is designed for students, teachers, teaching assistants and researchers.

7.2 Research Infrastructure

7.2.1 Researchers Labs and General Room Space

The research performed in animal related topics is performed in the several departments (see

Chapter 1) in the Silberman and Berman buildings. The available space to each of the researchers

is 60-100 square meters and general research (equipment rooms, growth rooms, cold rooms) and


7.3. General Research Facilities of the ILS

administrative areas totals about 300 square meters. A detailed list of all available areas is given

in Appendix X.

7.3 General Research Facilities of the ILS

7.3.1 Interdepartmental Instrumentation Unit

Director: Dr. David Harmatz

Tel: 02-6585125

The heavy equipment in the core facility, set up in 1983, is used extensively by all departments,

units and students. This facility has sophisticated laboratory instruments, among them ultracen-

trifuges, radioactive scintillation counters, high pressure liquid chromatographs (HPLC), a flow

cytometry (FACS) unit and computer-linked optical instruments for measuring physical and bio-

chemical parameters. Amino acid analysis and peptide synthesis are routinely performed by the

facility staff.

The core Facility Instruments are indicated in the table below:



INSTRUMENT MAKE CAPACITY REMARKS

Ultracentrifuges Beckman 80,000 rpm 6 Instruments

Mini Ultracentrifuges Beckman 130,000 rpm 3 Instruments

Beta counters Beckman Hundreds of samples 5 Instruments

Gamma Counters Kontron Hundreds of samples

Spectrophtometers HP, Cary, Spectronic, Pharmacia Cuvettes, capillaries 4 Instruments

Spectrofluorometers Perkin Elmer Cuvettes, microplates 2 Instruments

Microplate Readers Biotek, Tecan 96 well plates 400-700nm, 2 Instruments

Superspeed Centrifuges Sorvall Up to 6 Liters 6 Instruments

HPLC Merck-Hitachi, Waters UV-Vis,Radioactive,DA 5 Instruments

FACS Becton-Dickinson

Electroporators Bio Rad, BTX Cuvettes, petri dish 3 instruments

Sonicator Sonics Tip

Radioactive Plate Reader Packard 96 well plates Cell harvesting

Phosphor Imager Fuji FLA Radioactive, fluorescense 3 lasers

X-ray Film Developer Agfa 3 min per film Dark room

UV Cross Linker UltraLum

Image Analyzer Fuji LAS ECL, fluorescense CCD camera

French Press SLM-Spectronics 1-30ml

Microfluidizer Microfluidics 200ml and up

SpeedVac Concentrator Savant ul-250ml tubes

Lyophylizer Heto Bench top

Water purification Barnstead Cartdidges

Peptide Synthesizer Applied Biosystems 0.25 mmole Fmoc

7.3.2 The Electron Microscopy Unit

Academic director: Prof. Joseph Orly

Unit head: Mr. Avraham Wilenz

Phone: 02-6585980

Fax: 02-6586518

MSc, EM specialist : Naomi Feinstein

Phone: 02- 6586031



Function Electron microscope (EM) Unit facilitates biological research projects ranging from

the cellular to the macromolecular complex level

Services provided The EM Unit serves researchers representing all branches of life sciences

and allied fields by. Providing advanced techniques of high resolution immunogold localization

of intrinsic and chimeric proteins as well as nanotechnology and chemistry research. Training

students and technicians in sample preparation and use of the Transmission Electron Micro-

scopes.

Advantages The EM and Unit are staffed by highly knowledgeable, experienced researchers

utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and technologies

Client service record The EM Unit currently serves research groups in the Institute of Life

Sciences, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, the Faculty of Medicine in Ein Kerem, and Hadassah

Medical Centre, as well as commercial customers

Available equipment

• Electron Microscopy

• Transmission Electron Microscopes:

– Tecnai 12 (Phillips. FEI) TEM equipped with MegaView II CCD camera and Anal-

ySIS version 3.0 software

– Jeol JEM-100cx (Jeol-LTD.Tokyo Japan)

– LKB III Ultramicrotomes

– Ultracut S-Reichert Ultramicrotome and Cryo attachment

– CPD-Critical point drying for preparations of SEM samples

– Spatter coater



– Edwards 306 coater unit (carbon & shadowing)

– Glow discharge unit

7.3.3 The Confocal Microscope Unit

Scientific Director: Prof. Joseph Orly

Facilty Director: Dr. Naomi Melamed-Book

Contact info:

Phone: 02-6585453

Fax: 02-6586448

Email: [email protected]

The confocal unit in the Institute for Life Sciences has two confocal microscopes in use:

• Olympus FV1000/IX81

• Biorad MRC-1024 scanhead coupled to a Zeiss Axiovert 135M microscope

FV-1000 Confocal Microscope The FV-1000 confocal microscope is equipped with 4 lasers,

4 confocal detection channels, and one transmitted light detector. The system includes two laser

scanners so that bleaching and imaging can be done simultaneously. . The available lasers are:

1) blue diode laser (405nm), multiline argon ion laser (457nm, 488nm, 514nm), green and red

Hene lasers (543nm and 633nm).

The second scanner (”SIM” scanner) is well suited for FRAP experiments, where the 405nm

laser can bleach a small, defined area, while any of the other lasers can be used through the main

scanner to simultaneously image the sample. This configuration of the microscope is also useful

for uncaging experiments, using the 405nm laser.

Our FV-1000 confocal is suitable for live cell imaging. it is equipped with an on-scope in-

cubator (Life Imaging Services) which controls temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity.

Other capabilities of the system include: ability to do XYZT acquisition with multiple flu-

orescence channels and over multiple fields (multipoint). The zero drift compensation (ZDC)



system allows the system to maintain focus over long timelapse experiments. This will often

eliminate the need to acquire multiple focal planes, thus reducing exposure and the resulting

phototoxicity.

MRC-1024 Confocal Microscope The BioRad confocal has 2 lasers: an Argon Ion Laser

(457, 488and 514nm wave lengths) and a 594nm HeNe laser . It has 3 confocal detectors (PMT)

and one transmitted light detector. Any combination of three detectors can be selected at one

time. People who have been trained to operate the MRC-1024 (usually after a few training

sessions) can use it on their own.

The Confocal unit also provides assistance in designing experiments, including selection

of dyes and combinations of dyes, choice of imaging modes and data acquisition, and image

analysis and visualization. Researchers are strongly encouraged to discuss their experiments

with the confocal unit staff in advance.

Software currently available and supported by the confocal unit includes Image Pro Plus

(Media Cybernetics) this program can only be used in the unit and Image J which can be installed

in any computer. Our ImageJ implementation includes the most commonly needed functions,

including the ability to read the image data provided by the Confocal Unit. We also suggest using

the FV Viewer for the FV1000 files. To download FV Viewer go to: http://www.olympus.co.uk/

microscopy/22 FluoView FV1000 Confocal Microscope.htm.

7.3.4 The BIACORE Unit

Unit head: Dr. Hagit Zer

Phone: 02-6586877

Many Biological processes are based on protein protein interactions or on interaction between

protein and other cell factors. Understanding those interactions is a key role for understanding

many biological systems. Biacore technology allow us to follow real time interactions between

protein-protein, protein-DNA or RNA, protein-sugar etc’. without the need to label the protein.



The amount of proteins needed are small. In short time experiment one can get association dis-

sociation and affinity constants of different interactions. Using biacore it is possible to monitor

the affinity of different antibodies, to compare different mutants and to specify the interaction

site and learn about complexes structure etc.,

7.3.5 The Wolfson Center for Applied Structural Biology

Center Director: Prof. Oded Livnah

7.3.5.1 NMR Unit

Unit head: Dr. Debbie Shalev

The NMR spectrometer is a Bruker Avance DMX 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. It has four

channels and XYZ gradients. It is equipped with selective, inverse and multinuclear probes. The

spectrometer has a temperature range of 0-60 degrees Celsius. There is a preparation laboratory

adjacent to the spectrometer room for sample preparation.

7.3.5.2 The X-ray Crystallographic Laboratory

The X-ray crystallography unit is part of the Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology. The

unit consists of crystallization, and X-ray data collection laboratories. The Crystallization labo-

ratory is equipped with a Douglas Instruments automatic crystallization system (Oryx6) temper-

ature controlled incubators and microscopes. The X-ray data collection laboratory is equipped

with a Rigaku RU-3B rotating anode x-ray generator and an image plate RAXIS IV++ detector

with Osmic Confocal Max-Flux Optics. The systems also include an Oxfrord Cryosystems 700

series Crystream cooling device.

7.3.5.3 The Protein Expression Facility

Unit head: Dr. Tsafi Danieli

Tel: 02 - 65-85736/5



The facility functions as a training center for scientists in gene cloning and protein production.

We assist in the implementation of novel, state of the art techniques, otherwise too costly and

laborious for individual laboratories at the university. We offer assistance and information to all

research laboratories at the Hebrew university, at other universities and at biotech companies.

The facility specializes in four major expression systems: bacterial, insect and mammalian cells

and in-vitro translation. These systems supply the expression and modification requirements

for a wide variety of proteins. Proteins can be expressed in their native form or designed with

various tags and fusion additives for purification and characterization uses.

7.3.5.4 The Protein Purification Facility

Unit head: Dr. Mario Lebendiker

Tel: 02- 6586920

The Protein Purification Facility is a resource of information and assistance available to re-

searches and students as well as biotech and pharmaceutical companies that are interested in

protein purification. Our Unit assists researches to overcome the major bottleneck in structure

determination by X-Ray crystallography or NMR, that is the preparation of suitable crystalline

samples. Mainly we provide consultation and active support for researchers and students who

are interested in using the equipment, methods and materials of the Facility. The unit offers a

complete and fully automated liquid chromatography system designed for method development

and research applications, that simplifies the transition from laboratory to full-scale produc-

tion. We have columns and resins for purification according to size, charge, hydrophobicity and

substrate affinity. Gel electrophoresis and IEF (isoelectric focusing) apparatus; cell disruption,

blotting and ultrafiltration systems. The facility assists researchers, students and people from the

biotechnology industry in resolving their protein purification problems. We are actively involved

in many collaborations for structural and biochemical studies; isolation and identification of new

proteins. Due to the unique equipment and wide experience in the field, the protein purification

facility is the only place in Israel that provides comprehensive services in this area, and also



functions as a learning station.

7.3.6 The Center for Genomic Technologies

Staff Prof. Batsheva Kerem - Scientific director [email protected]

Dr. Mira Korner Facility director [email protected]

Technicians: Ida Gigozin, M.Sc

Meira Shlepakov, M.Sc

Yavgeny Dresnin, M.Sc

Marina Mordechai-Shvili, B.Sc

Nelly Gluzman M.Sc

Telephone number: 972-2-6585211

Fax number: 972-2-6584048

The Center for Genomic Technologies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was developed

with the assistance of the Israeli Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science. The center

serves as a National Research and Service Laboratory dedicated to the several approaches for

detecting DNA variations. It provides DNA analysis services to Israeli investigators on a cost-

recovery basis. The center is located at The Institute of Life Sciences, wing 1, 3rd floor, room

1-313. Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat-Ram.

The Center bases its work on the following instruments:

• ABI 3700 96 capillaries DNA Analyzer with a PC and dedicated software: DNA Data

Collection, GeneScan for 3 users, and Genotyper for 5 users.

• ABI PRISM 7900HT Real-Time PCR System with 96-wells, 384-wells and Microfluidic

cards platforms

• Affymetrix GeneCHip system

• Affymetrix 428 Array Scanner and the GMS 417 spotting Arrayer



• 2100 Bioanalyzer Agilent.

• MagNa Pure Compact System Roche

• Hydra 96-channels robotic microdispenser - Robbins

The services, provided by our Center, include:

Routine sequencing and genotyping The services provided at the center primarily include rou-

tine DNA sequencing. The output increased considerably (by over 15-fold) since the es-

tablishment of this center. Our users include basic and clinical researchers as well as

hospital services and industrial organizations. Thus, this center already fulfills the goals

outlined for it at its initiation.

Whole genome scan Microsatellites include variable copy numbers of Short Tandem Repeats

(STRs) with short sequence units between one to five base pairs. STRs are highly poly-

morphic, extremely abundant and evenly distributed throughout the genome. Therefore,

they serve as important sources of markers for use in defining alleles, linkage or associa-

tion studies and the creation of genetic maps.

Real-Time PCR Applied Biosystems 7900HT Real-Time PCR System is designed for detec-

tion of fluorescent PCR-related chemistries. The applications are:

• Gene expression quantification using the SYBR Green I chemistry, and the TaqMAN

Probe.

• Gene expression quantification using Low density array (microfluidic cards format).

• SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) detection using the TaqMAN Probe

SNP detection Detection of single base substitutions in DNA in the form of point mutations or

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) can serve as a powerful genetic mapping tool.

These variations are used to provide insight into population dynamics or are used in link-

age analysis. The Center offers three different technologies for SNP detection:


7.4. Libraries

• SNaPshot ddNTP Primer Extension (ABI ABI3700 DNA analyzer)

• TaqMAN Probe (ABI 7900HT Real-Time PCR System)

• GeneChip Mapping (Affymetrix)

Microarray technologies Using the Affymetrix GeneCHip system, the following DNA chips

are currently available:

• Expression Probe Arrays

• Tiling arrays, resequencing arrays.

• Genotyping: 500k SNPs array

DNA and RNA extractions and evaluation The MagNA Pure Compact from Roche Applied

Science is the solution for fully automated, low-throughput (1-8 isolations per run, 30

minutes run) nucleic-acid purification. High-quality nucleic acids are obtained from a

broad variety of sample materials. Pre-filled reagent cartridges speed instrument setup,

providing optimal convenience. The researcher supplies the GKC with the samples (tissue,

cell culture, blood etc.) DNA and RNA are extracted and checked for quality and quantity

by the GKC personnel. DNA and RNA quantity and quality are further tested on the

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer chips.

Expert counseling Counseling is provided at any time by Prof. Batsheva Kerem and Dr. Mira

korner.

7.4 Libraries

7.4.1 The Harman Science Library

The Harman Science Library, named for Dr. Abraham Harman, a former president of the He-

brew University of Jerusalem, is the central science library of the Faculty of Science and is

located on the Edmond Safra Campus at Givat Ram. The collections in physics, chemistry, life


7.4. Libraries

sciences and science teaching serve Faculty of Science’s teaching staff, researchers, graduate

and undergraduate students, including first year students of medicine, pharmacology, medical

sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, engineering and earth sciences. The collection in-

cludes textbooks, monographs, reference books, periodicals and theses, consists of more than

300,000 items. The expanded digital collection includes updated databases, electronic journals,

e-books, CDs and videos. The library provides circulation, reference and document delivary

services. Computers are available for searching the catalog and accessing a variety of electronic

resources.


Chapter 8

Self Assessment of Animal Sciences at

the Alexander Silberman Institute of

Life Sciences

Herein we present our report on “animal sciences” research conducted at the Alexander Silber-

man Institute of Life Sciences. This report was prepared during 2008, a year that endured a

prolonged lecturer strike that followed the student strike of the previous year (2007). Budget

cuts and the extensive retirement of staff at all levels contributed to the hard time for teaching

and research during these years.

Animal life sciences have always played a preeminent role in the Hebrew University. Out of

only three institutes that were erected at the time of the universitys inception, one was devoted

to microbiology. In 1925, the year at which the official opening ceremony of the University

took place, two new appointees - Prof. Alexander Eig and Prof. Frederick Simon Bodenheimer

- established the Departments of Botany and of Zoology. Research and teaching in today’s

Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences are a direct continuation of the scientific tradi-

tions established in those early days. Thus the mission of the Silberman Institute is two fold:

200

strive for excellence and ground breaking research and provide the best teaching and training for

both undergraduate and graduate students in all fields of the life sciences.

While the first half of the 20th century was heralded as the “golden age of physics” the

second half undoubtedly belongs to biology. Biological phenomena are now being studied at a

level of sophistication that no one could have envisaged only a few decades ago. Amongst the

“casualties” of the molecular biology revolution are the traditional disciplines that have fallen

out of favor. The Silberman Life Sciences Institute has undergone a similar transition through

the years that mirrors the revolution. Thus traditional boundaries such as botany and zoology

have made place for areas such as plant sciences and cell & animal biology.

In the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences we no longer have a department of

zoology, as such. However as detailed in the rest of our self assessment, considerable research

is conducted in Animal Sciences nonetheless. We would like to briefly summarize our major

findings and conclusions, highlighting the strengths of our institute and program, as well as

problems that need attention.

We are offering a rich and flexible program strengthened by our alliance with the medical

school on the one hand, and by our location on the science campus on the other hand. The

involvement of our top undergraduates in research from their early steps in the academic world,

prepares them for a scientific career. In addition to our basic biology program we offer a wide va-

riety of teaching programs: computational biology, psychobiology, chemistry- biology, physics-

biology, environmental science and special programs for outstanding students.

Our institute has many excellent scientists of international standing. Almost all the research

laboratories are funded by external, highly competitive grants and publish in high impact factor

journals. This high quality of scientific achievements is mainly the product of MSc and PhD

students work and is a testimony both to their excellence and to the mentorship they receive.

A recent self-evaluation of the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences has high-

lighted the impressive contribution of the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences to the

scientific community in Israel. As many as 50% of our PhD graduates that have completed their


postdoctoral training hold an academic position in an Israeli university, college, or research in-

stitute, 14% hold such posts abroad and many of the rest hold senior positions in the biotech

industry and in the public sectors.

Each year we accept 150 - 200 new undergraduate students and a somewhat smaller number

graduates from our program. From this group about 20% will proceed to graduate studies. In

spite of their subsequent success we feel that our curriculum could prepare them much better

for a research oriented career. They require more lab courses, personal tutoring and training in

skills of oral and written communication.

With the current financial resources it is unrealistic to provide all our students with this

training. Moreover, many of them would neither be suited for such training nor benefit from it.

We therefore propose to split our program into a research-oriented program and a program of

more college like education. The Etgar (challenge) program initiated many years ago had some

of the aspects of this new suggestion. It has however been watered down, mainly due to budget

reasons, and is no longer very different from the regular program.

We do suffer from some serious problems, most of which are the result of the suffocating

budgetary situation. This is manifested by the fact that in most recent years, (the last two were

welcome exceptions), we did not recruit enough new faculty. Our institute lost 25% of its faculty

in the last two decades from more then 80 in the eighties to about sixty now. Moreover we fail to

attract some of the candidates we want most and lose them to other institutes. This in not always

due to direct budget problems, but rather to the ongoing erosion in our standing, infrastructure

and environment we can offer. For these reasons certain disciplines of modern biology are

missing from our institute and program. Systems biology, has never been established, whereas

Plant sciences, once one of our flagships, has been drastically reduced. Zoology as a discipline

no longer exists in our institute and is no longer part of our curriculum.

The second most serious problem is the 50% cut in technical support for our research labora-

tories. Competent technicians are the backbone of “wet research”, they provide training to new

students, maintain the lab, care for its safety and create a productive lab environment. They also


play a crucial role in preparing and developing teaching laboratory courses. The reduction of

this staff causes severe damage to research and teaching with immediate and long-term effects.

We would like therefore to request to reverse this cut, to return the technical positions that have

been cut in recent years and to enable us to recruit new technicians to replace the ones that retire.

Referring to the above, success of our graduates is a testimony to our past excellence. We

find it difficult to maintain this excellence in view of reduced technical support, severe erosion

of our infrastructure and decreased numbers of teaching assistants and available lab courses.

We are painfully aware of the fact that many reports, prepared with great investment of effort,

are archived and have little effect. We do however hope that some of the ideas we present here

will be discussed by the committee and will serve as agents of change and improvement of our

program. We also hope that some of our more serious plights will be addressed so that we can

maintain and expand our scientific and educational excellence.


report submitted to the animal life sciences committee by

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