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Genetic Aspects of Brain Maturation and Behavior

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Brain and Behavior in Child Psychiatry

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Abstract

The application of molecular biology to the neurosciences offers a promising approach to uncover some underlying mechanisms relevant for the maturation of the central nervous system. Our knowledge of the involved genes and their products is increasing at a dramatic rate. However, in the light of the fact that approximately 30% of human genes are expressed in the brain, we are just beginning to evaluate these 15–30000 genes. At the DNA level every 100th base pair is polymorphic and the average heterozygosity rate is about 1:270. At the gene product level the average heterozygosity ranges between 2.2% and 15% depending on the tissue examined. If these figures are applied to the central nervous system, it becomes evident that an appreciable genetic variation probably exists in the brain that should also be relevant for brain maturation and function. The genetic variation can ultimately lead to variable neurophysio-logical systems that interact differentially with environmental factors (Propping 1987a).

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Authors
  1. J. Hebebrand
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  2. P. Propping
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrische Klinik am Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, J5, D-6800, Mannheim 1, Germany

    Aribert Rothenberger

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Hebebrand, J., Propping, P. (1990). Genetic Aspects of Brain Maturation and Behavior. In: Rothenberger, A. (eds) Brain and Behavior in Child Psychiatry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75342-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75342-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75344-2

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