Development and Genetics

Professor Pat Levitt describes how developmental and genetic research contribute to brain architecture.

Developmental research and genetics research really are focusing on properties of what’s responsible for putting the brain together, for building the architecture. Developmental research is about trying to describe the events that occur as the brain gets assembled – kind of like describing how you build a house from bricks and mortar. Genetics is about understanding the bricks and mortar themselves. What are genes doing to contribute to building brain architecture and building development? We know that in addition to genetics, the development of the brain depends upon experience as well. It’s one of the unique properties of brain development that actually attracted me to it. So genes are important and experience is important in building this architecture.