You are more than your genes. You are not just the hereditary material passed on by your parents, grandparents, and ancestors. You are your brain. And your brain is incredibly complex. From the moment you are born, it takes in information from your environment via sensory experiences and begins processing those sensations to help you navigate the world. Scientists still don’t fully understand how genes and environmental factors interact in the brain. That’s nature versus nurture in a nutshell.
One neuroscientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is getting to the bottom of this age-old question. CSHL Associate Professor Gabrielle Pouchelon explores the interplay of environmental cues and molecular programs during particularly important stages of brain development. “Those developmental steps open windows of opportunity for learning, but vulnerability as well,” she explains. And that’s why we often see potential signs of autism emerge before the age of 3.
You can watch Pouchelon break down her fascinating research during the latest installment of Cocktails & Chromosomes, CSHL’s series of monthly science talks. If you’d like to catch one of these talks live, your next opportunity comes on February 27. CSHL Assistant Professor Kate Alexander joins us at Industry Lounge in Huntington, NY, to discuss the hidden world inside our cells. Register now to attend.