You make a good point that the genome does not completely determine how the brain is set up. Environment is hugely influential in how things develop. I recently read that things the expression of our genes can be influence by things called transcription factors, as well as process called slicing and transposition. Each of these things is effected by the environment. For example, if your a small rat pup and your Mom licks you then this will trigger a cascade of hormones that will end up changing your DNA and your amygdala so that you release less stress hormone as an adult. Indeed, when you pass on your genes you will also produce kids that are less prone to stress.
Since environment is so important in development this exponentially increases the complexity of the brain. You don’t only need to know the genome, but you also need to know all the relevant environmental factors from the moment of conception. There simply is no blueprint for the brain and any attempt to decode the genome is erroneous.
As was pointed out in the article, however, many parts of the brain’s larger structure, finer wiring, and even the mechanisms for encoding gene expression including epigenetics (which we are only beginning to explore) are nearly identical between individuals of a species. Neuroscience and medical practice in general would be in sad shape of they didn’t take advantage of the knowledge gained by these “erroneous” attempts. Knowing everything about one particular brain would only benefit the owner of that brain, while knowing a lot about the general workings can benefit many, including potential AI programmers.
You make a good point that the genome does not completely determine how the brain is set up. Environment is hugely influential in how things develop. I recently read that things the expression of our genes can be influence by things called transcription factors, as well as process called slicing and transposition. Each of these things is effected by the environment. For example, if your a small rat pup and your Mom licks you then this will trigger a cascade of hormones that will end up changing your DNA and your amygdala so that you release less stress hormone as an adult. Indeed, when you pass on your genes you will also produce kids that are less prone to stress.
Since environment is so important in development this exponentially increases the complexity of the brain. You don’t only need to know the genome, but you also need to know all the relevant environmental factors from the moment of conception. There simply is no blueprint for the brain and any attempt to decode the genome is erroneous.
As was pointed out in the article, however, many parts of the brain’s larger structure, finer wiring, and even the mechanisms for encoding gene expression including epigenetics (which we are only beginning to explore) are nearly identical between individuals of a species. Neuroscience and medical practice in general would be in sad shape of they didn’t take advantage of the knowledge gained by these “erroneous” attempts. Knowing everything about one particular brain would only benefit the owner of that brain, while knowing a lot about the general workings can benefit many, including potential AI programmers.