The aim of the school is to analyse the specificity of nerve cell structure and function at the molecular, cellular and supracellular levels. Lectures will focus on the use of hybridoma and recombinant DNA techniques to identify specific antigens and/or protein-mediated functions. The acetylcholine receptor will be discussed as a model for other neurotransmitter receptors. Studies on the characterisation and characteristics of nerve cell lines and primary cultures will be presented. The school will explore genetic and epigenetic factors that influence nerve cell development, stabilisation of synaptic contacts and the formation of neuronal networks that serve higher brain functions.