Neurogenen
Neurogenen is a term used in neuroscience to describe genes that regulate neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are produced from neural progenitor or stem cells. This class encompasses a network of DNA-level regulators, including proneural transcription factors such as Neurog1, Neurog2, and NeuroD1, as well as other cell fate determinants like Ascl1, Pax6, and various Notch and Wnt signaling components. Together these genes control neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal differentiation, migration, maturation, and ultimately integration into neural circuits.
During embryonic development, neurogenic genes coordinate the transition from radial glial progenitors to postmitotic neurons. Notch
In the adult brain, neurogenesis persists in restricted niches, notably the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus
Disruptions or dysregulation of neurogenic genes have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive deficits, and neurodegenerative
Investigative methods include genetic knockout or knockdown in animals, fate-mapping lineage tracing, in situ hybridization, single-cell