Dissecting complex behaviours in the post-genomic era.

Identifying gene functions in behaviours has so far relied mainly on achievements in the field of molecular genetics. Further progress can be made by developing new approaches that allow refinement of behavioural phenotypes. The current availability of several thousand different mutant mice challenges behavioural neuroscientists to extend their views and methodologies, to dissect complex behaviours into behavioural phenotypes, and subsequently to define gene-behavioural phenotype relationships. Here, we plead for multi-day automated behavioural observations in carefully designed environments.