Spatial transcriptomics of L3 to L5 sections of the spinal cord from both wild-type and mutant SOD1 mice at pre-symptomatic, symptomatic and end-stage time points revealed that upregulation of Iba1, Tyrobp and Trem2 at the pre-symptomatic phase triggers microgliosis and the formation of the phagocytic microglial phenotype in this ALS model [13]. The gene discussed is AIF1; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.