Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Genes to Brains
22 September 2016

Genes to Brains

Over the years scientists have carefully mapped the brain, figuring out which regions perform different functions. Techniques such as functional MRI can show exactly which parts are active when people are doing all kinds of other tasks. Detailed microscopy and brain-scanning studies have traced the intricate network of connections between nerve cells in the brain, revealing the inner wiring of this powerful biological computer. But until now, nobody has tried to link patterns of gene activity into this functional and structural information. For the first time, researchers have generated this map of the brain, with each colour highlighting a particular group of genes that seem to be linked to that region. There are many variations in human genes that can influence traits and conditions affecting the brain, such as intelligence or autism, and this is the first step towards figuring out exactly how these genetic variations might exert their effects.

Written by Kat Arney

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.