TRANSGENIC MODELING OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Converging advances in the fields of molecular biology, molecular gene tics, cellular biology and embryology have given researchers the tools for the targeted delivery and stable germline transmission of foreign genes (transgenes) in the mouse. In the realm of neuropsychiatry, thi s so-named transgenic technology has begun to catapult our knowledge o f the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms in the brain that are linked to a variety of mental disorders as well as normal behavioral processes such as learning and memory. Moreover, the potential for tra nsgenic technology to develop more precise animal models of specific h uman neuropsychiatric disorders will likely lead to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention and facilitate the prec linical testing of new therapeutic agents. This article examines key i ssues and highlights recent developments pertaining to the transgenic modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders.