Neurogenetics

Neurogenetics is a field of biomedical science that studies how genetic variation influences the development, structure, and function of the nervous system. It encompasses the roles of single genes, gene networks, and polygenic influences on neural development, synaptic function, neural connectivity, and behavior. Neurogenetic research seeks to understand how genetic variation contributes to normal brain function as well as to neurological, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders. Heritability, gene-environment interactions, and epigenetic mechanisms are central themes.

Researchers use methods from genetics, genomics, and neuroscience, including exome and genome sequencing, linkage and association studies, and functional assays in cell and animal models. Model organisms like mice, Drosophila, and zebrafish, as well as human induced pluripotent stem cells, are used to study gene function. Technologies such as CRISPR-based genome editing, antisense oligonucleotides, and gene therapy are applied to investigate or treat conditions. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and single-cell analyses help map gene expression in neural circuits.

Clinical relevance includes Mendelian neuromuscular and neurodevelopmental disorders caused by single-gene mutations, as well as complex disorders such as autism, epilepsy, ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease where risk is distributed across many genes. Neurogenetics informs diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapies, including targeted molecular treatments and personalized medicine. Ethical considerations involve privacy, genetic counseling, incidental findings, and equitable access to genome-based care.