An estimated one in six people suffer from a brain disorder worldwide, according to the American Brain Foundation.
Mar 20 2024Virginia Tech Current research has provided some insight into cell-communication inside the brain, but there are still a lot of unknowns surrounding how this crucial organ functions. What if there was a comprehensive map that took into consideration not just the biology of the brain, but the specific location where the biology occurs?
Their goal? Mapping and visualization of the brain biology at genome scale in the most cost-effective way possible to improve healthy functioning. Epigenomic tomography involves the creation of a detailed map of the epigenome, or the genome-scale profile of the epigenetic change, across a large area and volume of the brain. Lu believes this is an important method for scientists to use to understand the genetic and environmental factors that affect the ways genes behave outside of DNA sequences.
Related StoriesOnce the digital tomography of the brain is reassembled, the researchers have a map that is characteristic of the brain's epigenome across a significant area. When the map changes, this reflects a significant change in terms of how the brain is performing at the epigenomic level, which Jia says is groundbreaking for understanding brain disorders.
Funding for their research came from a variety of sources who are interested in future drug development for neurological disorders, including: "Our findings wouldn't have been possible without the close collaboration across multiple disciplines," Jia said. "It's really exciting to see that epigenomic tomography facilitates the understanding of spatially dynamic processes across a large brain area underlying seizure, and I expect it can enable applications in a wide range of brain diseases in the future."
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