Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • Educational Assets
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Researchers Map Mouse Brain to Understand Brain Disorders

By R&D Editors | June 19, 2014

Researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science have mapped the development of the mouse brain from the embryo to the adult, creating a preliminary genetic key that allows them to pinpoint the age and location of regions of the developing brain. This work lays the foundation for tracking regions of the mouse brain through development, which could have valuable implications for translational work in human brain developmental disorders. The research, profiling the publicly available Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas, is published in the journal Neuron. 
 
In order to identify individual brain regions, and their age, researchers frequently turn to using genes that can be found exclusively in that particular region and time point. But truly specific so-called “marker” genes are actually quite rare, explained Michael Hawrylycz, investigator at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. “Rather than relying on single genes, we were able to identify combinations of genes and use those combinations to create a unique code that can be used to place regions of the brain in space-time,” said Hawrylycz. 
 
The research team also captured evidence of how the brain develops from its earliest form of stacked primordial plates to its adult form with the more familiar geographic regions that begin to correspond to specialized functional divisions of the brain. 
 
“We can now place this important organizational transition from plates to regions within developmental time,” said Carol Thompson, lead author and scientific program manager at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. “We already knew this transition took place, but now we understand the mechanics behind it at a much more detailed, molecular level.” 
 
The Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas serves as an expansion of the original Allen Mouse Brain Atlas and identifies where genes are active in the brain over seven different ages, ranging from prenatal to adult. Rather than profiling every gene in the mouse genome, the researchers selected approximately 2,100 genes with particular importance in development, and used those to identify individual brain regions at different time points. 
 
“The Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas works like a Rosetta stone for the developing brain,” said Allan Jones, CEO of the Allen Institute for Brain Science. “We can translate how and when genes are expressed into what is happening in the brain developmentally, making this resource a promising tool for better understanding and eventually treating brain developmental disorders and diseases.” 
 
As with all Allen Brain Atlas resources, the data from the Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas are publicly available through the Allen Brain Atlas data portal at brain-map.org.
 
Date; June 19, 2014
Source: Allen Institute for Brain Science

Related Articles Read More >

Scientists discover compounds that could help fight any virus
Festo pumps 8% of revenue into R&D, driving miniaturized automation for life sciences
New NVIDIA AI achieves over 75% ‘co-designability’ in atom-level protein generation, doubling the success rate of prior methods
AI system found over 300 potential antibiotic compounds in snake and spider venom
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • Educational Assets
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE