December, 2007

It is my pleasure to present the eighth volume of Pioneering Neuroscience. The articles collected in this volume represent original contributions to the field of Neuroscience offered by students in Biology 150 -- Introduction to Biological Inquiry: the Language of Neurons. For most of these students, Bio 150 was taken during their first semester in college. For all of the students, this was their first college-level biology course! The articles in this volume explore three general themes: the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ metabolism, neurotransmitter receptors, and nitric oxide in the modulation of neurotransmitter release at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. You will notice several very novel and/or current topics, including Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, endocannabinoid receptors, and nitric oxide. I have enjoyed working with these students and, as usual, I am deeply impressed with what they have accomplished in such a short time. I hope you enjoy it.

I wish to thank the students of Biology 150 for their hard work and collegiality. None of this would have been possible without the major contributions of Sue Kolbe, the lab instructor for Biology 150, and Stacy McCarthy and Zachary Newman, the student assistants. Finally, thanks to Sarah Mirk ‘08 for providing the cover art.

Clark Lindgren, Editor. Grinnell, Iowa.