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Paul Allen institute releases human brain gene map

The aim is to create an online atlas that can characterize and map the biochemistry of two normal adult human brains.
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

The Allen Institute for Brain Science on Tuesday released a gene map for the human brain online.

According to the institute, launched by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the human brain atlas was made possible by "federal financial management and government information subcommittee."

The aim is to create an online atlas that can characterize and map the biochemistry of two normal adult human brains. According to a statement:

The data reveal a striking 94 percent similarity between human brains, establishing strong patterns as a critical foundation for translational and clinical research. In addition, data analysis from the two human brains indicate that at least 82 percent of all human genes are expressed in the brain, highlighting its tremendous complexity while also providing an essential genetic blueprint to understand brain functionality better and propel research in neurologic disease and other brain disorders.

These disorders include Alzheimers, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, autism, mental illness and drug addiction.

The Allen Institute for Brain Science likened its brain map to a GPS navigation system that identifies 1,000 anatomical sites in the brain with 100 million data points. The atlas incorporates data from "magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as well as histology and gene expression data derived from both microarray and in situ hybridization (ISH) approaches."

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com

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