Volume 16
“Hippocampus” by Philip Freund
“The concept of Form and Function is central to biology, and in fact all of the hard sciences. From the selective pore of an ion channel, chromatin organization, cell compartmentalization and size regulation, to tissue structure, organ and organ system connectivity, and gross anatomy, form in life is intrinsically tied to biological function. I took this photograph from the floor of Antelope Canyon, in the northern Navajo Nation, Arizona. The slot canyon was formed when rainwater slowly eroded sandstone, leading to a narrow but deep cut in the earth. The canyon, just like life, is full of diverse forms that never cease to amaze. This picture in particular is significant to me because it shows light shining through the roof of the canyon, which when viewed at just the right angle shows the outline of a seahorse, known in Greek mythology (and neuroscience) as a hippocampus. As a brain structure, the hippocampus is quite elegant, and its form is intertwined with the functional connectivity of neurons within. As we observe the world around us, it is good to take a moment and appreciate the vast array of forms and functions that make life both possible and beautiful.”
- Philip Freund
Philip Freund ’19
Credit: I acknowledge the help of Ms. Olivia Powrozek and Dr. Patricia Loomis(Confocal microscopy core facility RFUMS, Magnification of image 20X)
Samantha Russell ’20
Reed Houcek ’23
Reed Houcek ’23
