"Specification of select hypothalamic circuits and innate behaviors by the embryonic patterning gene dbx1"

In the first of a meeting of a new journal club in the Kucenas lab, Maria Ali presented a paper entitled "Specification of select hypothalamic circuits and innate behaviors by the embryonic patterning gene dbx1" produced in a collaboration between the labs of Kevin Smith and Joshua Corbin and led by Katie Sokolowski. Our lab in particular discussed our appreciation for the paper to go from a gene of interest to investigating the gene's role in both neuronal and behavioral functions. The paper also highlighted the ability to identify a gene involved in regulating innate behaviors. ​