Transcriptome of embryonic and neonatal mouse cortex by high-throughput RNA sequencing

Brain structure and function experience dramatic changes from embryonic to postnatal development. However, gene expression information during early brain development is limited. We have generated >27 million reads to identify mRNAs from the mouse cortex for >16,000 genes at either embryonic day 18 (E18) or postnatal day 7 (P7), a period of significant synaptogenesis for neural circuit formation. In addition, we devised strategies to detect alternative splice forms and previously unannotated transcriptionally active regions (TARs).