About this Research Topic
The abnormal expression of genes and proteins during development induces abnormal brain structure and function in adulthood, which is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Recent progress in non-invasive neuroimaging has enabled us to investigate the “spatio-temporal features” of the structure and function of the developing brain in humans. Furthermore, a number of genomic studies indicate the molecular genetic dissection of brain development. Although this information helps in elucidating the relationship between developmental diseases and genome expression, an animal model developed by genome-editing would be needed to investigate the causality between gene expression and development.
Genetic engineering and genome editing enable us to make genetically modified animals, and neuroimaging techniques allow us to chronologically trace alterations in brain structure and function in these animal models. Therefore, the combination of these techniques will open the opportunity to detect key players which are essential in brain development.
The goal of this Research Topic is to show when, where, and how genes and proteins are effective for brain development. This article collection will bring together human and animal research to draw comparisons and differences with the aim of apprehending the strength and weaknesses of each and how they complement each other. This Research Topic also aims to understand the role of key genes and proteins in the development of the brain using genetic engineering, genome editing, and/or neuroimaging techniques across species. This Research Topic will especially focus on new technologies to evaluate the impact of genes and the environment on brain structure and function across species in health and disorders. We welcome Original Research and Review articles that:
• Investigate the influence of genes and/or proteins on the development of the structure and functions of the brain
• Describe novel approaches to bridge animal models and humans to investigate brain development
• Focus on the development and validation of quantitative and unbiased cross-species biomarkers
• Describe novel imaging techniques to investigate the biomarkers that are sensitive to brain structure and function
• Review comparative studies on brain development and key genes/proteins in humans and animal models
Genetic engineering and genome editing enable us to make genetically modified animals, and neuroimaging techniques allow us to chronologically trace alterations in brain structure and function in these animal models. Therefore, the combination of these techniques will open the opportunity to detect key players which are essential in brain development.
The goal of this Research Topic is to show when, where, and how genes and proteins are effective for brain development. This article collection will bring together human and animal research to draw comparisons and differences with the aim of apprehending the strength and weaknesses of each and how they complement each other. This Research Topic also aims to understand the role of key genes and proteins in the development of the brain using genetic engineering, genome editing, and/or neuroimaging techniques across species. This Research Topic will especially focus on new technologies to evaluate the impact of genes and the environment on brain structure and function across species in health and disorders. We welcome Original Research and Review articles that:
• Investigate the influence of genes and/or proteins on the development of the structure and functions of the brain
• Describe novel approaches to bridge animal models and humans to investigate brain development
• Focus on the development and validation of quantitative and unbiased cross-species biomarkers
• Describe novel imaging techniques to investigate the biomarkers that are sensitive to brain structure and function
• Review comparative studies on brain development and key genes/proteins in humans and animal models
Keywords: Brain development, Animal models, Humans, Biomarkers, Neuroimaging
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
