Researchers Map Gene Expression in Layers of Mouse Brain

A new atlas of gene expression patterns in the adult mouse brain shows how thousands of genes are turned on in the six layers of the cortex, according to a report published 25 August in Neuron.The researchers have posted the data in a free online database, allowing interested scientists to look for the expression pattern of candidate genes for various diseases, including autism.An informal search of the database shows that several autism candidate genes are selectively expressed in layer 5, for example.In total, the resource describes the activity of more than 11,000 genes, more than half of which show selective activity in specific layers of the cortex."It's very reassuring when you look at a list of genes and you know that, that’s it, there are no more," says lead investigator Zoltán Molnár, professor of developmental neurobiology at Oxford University in the U.K.Read more at...SFARI, September 2011.