Developing the field of neurogenetics

Excerpt

”Neurogenetics” studies the genetic basis of normal and abnormal differentiation and function of the nervous system. The field was pioneered by Seymour Benzer who investigated behavior and neurodegeneration in Drosophila. His work has also increased our knowledge of genetic aspects of neuronal (dys-) function in other organisms including humans. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for a better understanding of neurogenetic diseases which are defined as “clinical disease(s) caused by a defect in one or more genes which affect the differentiation and function of the neuroectoderm and its derivatives” [1]. Since the mid-1980s of the last century, the advent of positional cloning techniques has facilitated direct approaches to the elucidation of neurogenetic disorders, temporarily overshadowing the relevance of the study of model organisms. …