The function of DSCAM (DS cell adhesion molecule, ENSG00000171587) is as follows. Cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in neuronal self- avoidance. Promotes repulsion between specific neuronal processes of either the same cell or the same subtype of cells. Mediates within retinal amacrine and ganglion cell subtypes both isoneuronal self- avoidance for creating an orderly dendritic arborization and heteroneuronal self-avoidance to maintain the mosaic spacing between amacrine and ganglion cell bodies (PubMed:10925149). Receptor for netrin required for axon guidance independently of and in collaboration with the receptor DCC. Might also collaborate with UNC5C in NTN1- mediated axon repulsion independently of DCC (By similarity). In spinal cord development plays a role in guiding commissural axons projection and pathfinding across the ventral midline to reach the floor plate upon ligand binding (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994). Mediates intracellular signaling by stimulating the activation of MAPK8 and MAP kinase p38 (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994). Adhesion molecule that promotes lamina-specific synaptic connections in the retina: expressed in specific subsets of interneurons and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and promotes synaptic connectivity via homophilic interactions (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:F1NY98, ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9ERC8, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10925149, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18585357, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19196994}.