Molecular Biology

Molecular biologists in the G2C team are engaged in a wide range of activities that are essential for studying genes in behaviour. These include the detection of gene mutations in DNA from patients with mental illnesses on one hand and the creation of similar mutations in mice on the other. In addition there are a range of other molecular techniques that can be applied to these genes in experimental circumstances, such as asking how these genes are turned on and off when nerve cells become active or during the development of the nervous system.

Some specific molecular biological activities include:

• Building gene targeting vectors for knocking out genes in mouse embryonic stem cells

• Building DNA vectors for overexpressing genes in neurons.

• Measuring levels of gene expression in cultured nerve cells and brain tissues using whole genome microarrays and PCR methods.

• Sequencing of human DNA to find mutations in genes involved with human psychiatric disorders

• Studying the gene regulatory sequences that control the genes.