P1 · Discovery
Find every instance of a neuron type across all datasets
The ontology gives each cell type one name, so a single query spans FlyWire, hemibrain, BANC, male-CNS, MANC, optic-lobe and CATMAID datasets at once.
Key question: Find all instances of a neuron type across every dataset.
Route A: Python API
Use vfb.get_instances() to search for a neuron type by name. The ontology gives each cell type one name, so a single query spans FlyWire, hemibrain, BANC, male-CNS, MANC, optic-lobe and CATMAID datasets at once.
from vfb_connect import vfb
# Search for DA1 lPN neurons
df = vfb.get_instances("DA1 lPN")
print(f"Found {len(df)} instances across datasets")
print(df[['dataset', 'vfb_id', 'label']])
Expected result: ~68 individual neurons classified as DA1 lPN across multiple datasets.
Route B: MCP Tool
Example Prompt
Search VFB for the neuron type 'DA1 lPN' and list every individual neuron across all datasets, with their dataset and VFB ID.
Route C: VFB Chat
VFB Chat provides a zero-install way to discover neurons. It stays focused on Drosophila neuroanatomy and answers from VFB’s data.
Optimized prompt: Ask for the count and list with IDs in one question.
Route D: 3D Circuit Browser
When to Reach for Which Route
- Chat to find the right name fast and get oriented
- MCP when you want conversational search with structured output
- Python API when you need the full table for downstream analysis and reproducibility