Molecular Neuroscience

Molecular Neuroscience is a dynamic area of contemporary research which seeks to apply new molecular biology techniques to advance our understanding of complex brain functions such as memory and of inherited neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Mammalian genome sequencing projects are building a vast resource which must eventually be integrated into our understanding of the brain, and the new sciences of bioinformatics and functional genomics hold the promise that this integration can become a reality. This readable introduction to the field captures the excitement of current research in the area. The text is designed to bridge the gap between the established cores of molecular biology and neuroscience knowledge through concise descriptions of key research questions, the genetic technologies which are available to approach those questions, and the current interpretation of research findings. Access to "up-to-date" information is available through extensive reference to the websites of leading research laboratories, biotechnology companies and other electronic resources. Molecular Neuroscience has been developed from final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses, which the authors have devised and taught. It will be of value to advanced university students and to research workers; both to neuroscientists who are adopting molecular approaches for the first time and to those already in the field.