RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Molecular atlas of the adult mouse brain JF Science Advances JO Sci Adv FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP eabb3446 DO 10.1126/sciadv.abb3446 VO 6 IS 26 A1 Ortiz, Cantin A1 Navarro, Jose Fernandez A1 Jurek, Aleksandra A1 Märtin, Antje A1 Lundeberg, Joakim A1 Meletis, Konstantinos YR 2020 UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/26/eabb3446.abstract AB Brain maps are essential for integrating information and interpreting the structure-function relationship of circuits and behavior. We aimed to generate a systematic classification of the adult mouse brain based purely on the unbiased identification of spatially defining features by employing whole-brain spatial transcriptomics. We found that the molecular information was sufficient to deduce the complex and detailed neuroanatomical organization of the brain. The unsupervised (non-expert, data-driven) classification revealed new area- and layer-specific subregions, for example in isocortex and hippocampus, and new subdivisions of striatum. The molecular atlas further supports the characterization of the spatial identity of neurons from their single-cell RNA profile, and provides a resource for annotating the brain using a minimal gene set—a brain palette. In summary, we have established a molecular atlas to formally define the spatial organization of brain regions, including the molecular code for mapping and targeting of discrete neuroanatomical domains.