Christopher R. Olson
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email
Current Area of Research
Mechanisms of retinoic acid signaling in the songbird brain and its role in brain development and auditory learning.
Education
1995 BA Biology, Lewis and Clark College
2006 PhD Ecology & Evolution, Iowa State University
Affiliations
AAAS
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Sigma Xi
Teaching Experience
Visiting Instructor: Biology Department, University of Portland, 2008-2009- Human Physiology Laboratory
- Human Biology (for non-majors)
- Comparative Animal Physiology
- General Biology (Bi 101, for non-majors)
- Comparative Animal Physiology (Bi 418/518)
- Zool 256: Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory
Zool 304: Animal Behavior Laboratory
Zool 355: Principles of Physiology Laboratory
Research Interests
My fellowship research addresses the importance of retinoic acid in the development and maintenance of the avian song system. Retinoid signaling is important in the development and maintenance of neuronal phenotypes. When disrupted in humans this results in severe learning disabilities. Work on vocal learning in songbirds has identified the key brain centers responsible for the control and development of learned bird song, and proper retinoid signaling is one requirement for adequate function of these brain pathways. Songbirds learn their songs by listening to adult tutors, and perfect them through a period of trial and error- a process analogous to how humans learn language as children. Thus, one goal of this study is to elucidate how retinoid signaling specifically affects the avian song pathways, including effects on gene expression and neuronal proliferation, migration and incorporation into the song centers.
In addition I work on the effects of temperature on avian embryo development. Avian incubation requires provisioning heat to embryos and the balance between heating the eggs and self-maintenance represents a classic parent-offspring conflict. Yet, the ability of embryos to tolerate neglect and variation in development temperature and incubation period should also affect this trade-off, and we are just beginning to appreciate the role of the embryo to the evolution of life-history and behavior.
Publications
Olson, C. R., P. Vianney, J. Jeong, D. Prahl, and Claudio V. Mello. Organization and development of zebra finch HVC and paraHVC based on expression of zRalDH, an enzyme associated with retinoic acid production. Submitted to J. Comp. Neurol.
Olson, C. R. and C. V. Mello. In press. Significance of Vitamin A to brain function, behavior and learning. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.
Wood, W. E., C. R. Olson, P. Lovell and C. V. Mello. 2008. Dietary retinoic acid affects song maturation and gene expression in the song system of the zebra finch. Developmental Neurobiology ePub ahead of print.
Olson, C. R., C. M. Vleck, D. C. Adams. 2008. Decoupling morphological development from growth in periodically cooled zebra finch embryos. Journal of Morphology 269: 875-883.
Olson, C. R., C. M. Vleck, and D. Vleck. 2006. Periodic cooling of bird eggs reduces embryonic growth efficiency. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 79: 927-936.
Weathers, W. W., C. L. Davidson, C. R. Olson, M. L. Morton, N. Nur, and T. R. Famula. 2002. Altitudinal variation in parental energy expenditure by white-crowned sparrows. Journal of Experimental Biology 205: 2915-24.
Martin, T. E., P. R. Martin, C. R. Olson, B. J. Heidinger, J. J. Fontaine. 2000. Nest predation constraints on parental care and clutch size in North and South America. Science 287: 1482-1485.
Olson, C. R., and T. E. Martin. 1999. Virginia Warbler (Vermivora virginiae). In The Birds of North America, No. 477 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Weathers, W. W., C. R. Olson, R. B. Siegel, C. L. Davidson, and T. R. Famula. 1999. Winter and Breeding Season Energetics of Non-migratory White-crowned Sparrows. Auk 116(3): 842-847.
