Gene Expression in the Human Brain: The Current State of the Study of Specificity and Spatio-temporal Dynamics

Gene expression is one of the main molecular processes regulating the differentiation, development, and functioning of cells and tissues. In this review we introduce relevant concepts and describe selected techniques used in studies of gene expression/expression profiling (i.e., studies of the trans...

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Published inChild development Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 76 - 88
Main Authors Naumova, Oksana Yu, Lee, Maria, Rychkov, Sergei Yu, Vlasova, Natalia V., Grigorenko, Elena L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 12.11.2012
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Summary:Gene expression is one of the main molecular processes regulating the differentiation, development, and functioning of cells and tissues. In this review we introduce relevant concepts and describe selected techniques used in studies of gene expression/expression profiling (i.e., studies of the transcriptome or transcriptomics). The main foci of this review are the advancements in studies of the transcriptome in the human brain, the transcriptome’s variability across different its structures, and systematic changes through different lifespan stages in general and childhood in particular. In conclusion, we discuss how the accumulating data on the spatial and temporal dynamics of the transcriptome may shed light on the molecular mechanisms of the typical and atypical development of the central nervous system (CNS).
ISSN:0009-3920
1467-8624
DOI:10.1111/cdev.12014