About this Research Topic
Systems Neurogenetics is a topic that combines genetics and neuroscience, two disciplines that have advanced quickly in recent years in terms of new technology and understanding. With a primary focus on understanding how genes regulate the development of the nervous system and the enormous variety of behavioral repertoires seen throughout the animal kingdom, neurogenetics covers a broad range of subjects and concerns. The ability of genetics to shed light on the workings of the brain has been amply demonstrated by forward genetic screens and later reverse genetic methods. With the development of technical instruments, we are able to comprehend the structure of the nervous system with greater resolution and create atlases from detailed molecular profiles of various neuronal and glial types to activity maps of individual neurons or ensembles to full connectomes of the nervous system, of various neuronal and glial types. We can now observe the functioning of the brain thanks to genetically encoded reporters of neuronal activity; in some creatures, this is possible with single- cell resolution from the perspective of the entire nervous system. New phenotypic areas are being defined by the cataloging of cell types and neural activity patterns, which may then be subjected to thorough mutant investigation. The development of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing, which has begun to allow non-traditional model organisms to participate in genetic study, is another significant advance.
Our understanding of the role played by genes, genetic networks, and underlying pathways in the growth, maintenance, and function of the nervous system has considerably increased. The resolution with which we can view nervous system growth and organization has greatly increased with the advent of new genomics tools, such as single-cell transcriptomics in combination with 4D and super-resolution imaging technologies. Parallel to this, genetic techniques for observing brain connections and activity in vivo in active animals are revealing hitherto unattainable details about neural circuitry and function. In theory, all of these quickly developing techniques can be used to create next-generation genetic screens that can detect more intricate and sophisticated phenotypes than ever before. Automating the collection of these phenotypic traits will be a significant obstacle for the sector. The discipline will face substantial challenges in automating the gathering of these phenotypic features in order to provide objective screening. Another difficulty will be developing more accurate techniques to manipulate and monitor gene expression and brain activity in particular neurons, dynamically and reversibly. The further development of computational tools to assess and combine content-rich molecular and functional atlases and connectivity maps will be necessary to comprehend the function of the nervous system holistically.
In order to conceptualize and experimentally verify the ways in which gene regulation and function translate to neuronal properties, the establishment of circuitry, and ultimately to behavior and consciousness, it will also be necessary to translate the knowledge resulting from these large datasets. Given recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing and gene editing technologies that make it simple to change the genomes of non-model and wild animals, developing tools and technologies that can be used across systems has become a challenging task to fulfill. This diversity of viewpoints is a result of the multiplicity of scientists studying these issues as well as the investigation of various nervous system-related issues in various model systems. Building on the scientific and technological diversity of the field to enhance demographic diversity, equity, and inclusion is a critical demand for the field that will broaden the effect of neurogenetics.
This Research Topic invites contributors to explore various themes related to systems neurogenetics. Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Systems neurogenetics of disease
2. Genetic modifiers in neurological disease
3. Exploitation of model systems to develop better treatments for neurological disease
4. Complex Trait Consortium
5. Genetic analysis of complex traits
6. Genome wide association studies in neurologic disease
7. Informatics approach to systems neurogenetics
8. Role of epigenetics in systems neuroscience, neural development, and neurologic disease
We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and case series.
Our understanding of the role played by genes, genetic networks, and underlying pathways in the growth, maintenance, and function of the nervous system has considerably increased. The resolution with which we can view nervous system growth and organization has greatly increased with the advent of new genomics tools, such as single-cell transcriptomics in combination with 4D and super-resolution imaging technologies. Parallel to this, genetic techniques for observing brain connections and activity in vivo in active animals are revealing hitherto unattainable details about neural circuitry and function. In theory, all of these quickly developing techniques can be used to create next-generation genetic screens that can detect more intricate and sophisticated phenotypes than ever before. Automating the collection of these phenotypic traits will be a significant obstacle for the sector. The discipline will face substantial challenges in automating the gathering of these phenotypic features in order to provide objective screening. Another difficulty will be developing more accurate techniques to manipulate and monitor gene expression and brain activity in particular neurons, dynamically and reversibly. The further development of computational tools to assess and combine content-rich molecular and functional atlases and connectivity maps will be necessary to comprehend the function of the nervous system holistically.
In order to conceptualize and experimentally verify the ways in which gene regulation and function translate to neuronal properties, the establishment of circuitry, and ultimately to behavior and consciousness, it will also be necessary to translate the knowledge resulting from these large datasets. Given recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing and gene editing technologies that make it simple to change the genomes of non-model and wild animals, developing tools and technologies that can be used across systems has become a challenging task to fulfill. This diversity of viewpoints is a result of the multiplicity of scientists studying these issues as well as the investigation of various nervous system-related issues in various model systems. Building on the scientific and technological diversity of the field to enhance demographic diversity, equity, and inclusion is a critical demand for the field that will broaden the effect of neurogenetics.
This Research Topic invites contributors to explore various themes related to systems neurogenetics. Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Systems neurogenetics of disease
2. Genetic modifiers in neurological disease
3. Exploitation of model systems to develop better treatments for neurological disease
4. Complex Trait Consortium
5. Genetic analysis of complex traits
6. Genome wide association studies in neurologic disease
7. Informatics approach to systems neurogenetics
8. Role of epigenetics in systems neuroscience, neural development, and neurologic disease
We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and case series.
Keywords: System neurogenetics, genetic modifiers, genome wide association studies, complex trait consortium, monogenetic neuroscience, epigenetics, model systems, computational neuroscience, systems neuroscience
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.
