Phenomics: fiction or the future?

doi:10.1016/S0166-2236(02)02250-6

Trends in Neurosciences

Volume 25, Issue 10, 1 October 2002, Pages 506-509

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-2236(02)02250-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

The ease with which genetic mutations can be induced in or introduced into mammalian organisms, such as the mouse, has created a significant need for phenotypic analysis. Developments in computer technology, instrumentation and bioinformatics, as well as in numerous neuroscience disciplines, will help to meet the demands set by the molecular revolution. As a result, the field of ‘phenomics’ is being born. This will integrate multidisciplinary research, with the goal of understanding the complex phenotypic consequences of genetic mutations at the level of the organism. This paper focuses on one of the disciplines that show promising developments, behavioral science.

Section snippets

Searching under the torchlight

Although it is generally appreciated that the ultimate output of the brain is behavior, and that behavioral analysis has the potential to reveal functional alterations of any circuit or any neurobiological process of the brain [4], serious practical issues limit the utility of behavioral studies. Most importantly, behavioral tests are time consuming and, thus, investigators often prefer to focus on particular aspects of behavior using a limited number of tests. The danger of this approach is

Speed versus quality

From the above it is clear that a test battery represents a significant challenge. Optimization of a battery is not trivial. The primary problem is a practical one: behavioral analysis is space- and time-intensive. How can one collect all the pieces of information with which to properly evaluate which aspects of brain function are affected by a genetic manipulation within a reasonable amount of time? Would speed be increased at the expense of quality? Steps have been taken to address this

Bioinformatics to the rescue

The amount of data one gathers using such devices can be staggering. Bioinformatics tools, multivariate statistical methods and pattern analysis can be required to extract information from these complex behavioral experiments properly and concisely. Furthermore, phenotyping is not the exclusive domain of behavioral science. For example, in vivo multi-electrode recordings from individual neurons have already shown great promise [26]. The fact that behavioral and electrophysiological

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Hans-Peter Lipp (Zurich, Switzerland), Kimberley Gannon, Benjamin Adams and Thomas Fitch (Indianapolis, USA) for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Trends in Neurosciences

OpinionPhenomics: fiction or the future?

Abstract

Section snippets

Searching under the torchlight

Speed versus quality

Bioinformatics to the rescue

Acknowledgements

Trends Neurosci.

Behav. Brain Res.

Horm. Behav.

Behav. Brain Res.

Behav. Brain Res.

Physiol. Behav.

Physiol. Behav.

Trends Neurosci.

Trends Neurosci.

Behav. Brain Res.

Behav. Brain Res.

Cell

Physiol. Behav.

Opinion
Phenomics: fiction or the future?