Addressing the Genetics of Human Mental Health Disorders in Model Organisms

2015/05/23 by Jasmine M. McCammon, Hazel Sive · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms #Pluripotent Stem Cells Research #Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-genom-090314-050048

openalex publication_date 2015/05/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Mental health disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat for a variety of reasons, including genetic heterogeneity, comorbidities, and qualitative diagnostic criteria. Discovery of the molecular pathology underlying these disorders is crucial to the development of quantitative biomarkers and novel therapeutics. In this review, we discuss contributions to the mental health field of different cellular and whole-animal approaches in characterizing psychiatric genetics and molecular pathology. These approaches include mammalian cell and neuronal culture, cerebral organoids, induced pluripotent stem cells, and the whole-animal models of nematodes, flies, mollusks, frogs, mice, and zebrafish, on the last of which we place extra emphasis. Integrative use of these cellular and animal systems in a complementary and informative fashion maximizes the potential contributions to the mental health field as a whole.

Citations

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Cited by

• Zebrafish [wikipedia]

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