Genetic and Environmental Control of Neural Development
C. LEVINTHALThe importance of genetic and environmental factors in determining the structure and function of the human brain have been debated for centuries. During the past 50 years, we have seen wide swings in the accepted wisdom of the scientific community. Developments in basic biology, both in molecular biology and neurobiology, have taken place within recent decades that help to clarify these problems, but in general the interesting answers still remain for the future.There are several conclusions that are now firmly established. First, the usual function of individual genes is to code for the structure of a particular protein; the protein may be a cellular enzyme or a structural component; it may be a neural peptide or the precursor of one; it may be a transmembrane protein used for cellular recognition; or it may serve some other, as yet unknown, function.