Transcriptional Control of Cortical Cell Fate

John Rubenstein, MD, PhD
Nina Ireland Distinguished Professor
in Child Psychiatry
University of California, San Francisco

The embryonic neural tube differentiates into diverse structures depending upon their spatial coordinates. The forebrain, which is at the rostral end of the neural tube, differentiates into the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia and other components, each with distinct histologies and functions. The Rubenstein Lab is interested in studying the genes that regulate regional specification and differentiation of the mammalian forebrain. In addition, it has a long-standing interest in integrating these findings to better understand the development and evolution of forebrain neural systems and to help elucidate mechanisms underlying human neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.