Schizophrenia - Molecular genetic studies of schizophrenia loci

There is currently a great deal of effort being put into molecular genetic studies of schizophrenia, which attempt to identify specific genes which may increase risk these genetic marker studies can greatly improve the prospect of detecting a major gene effect.

Current findings
A 2003 review of linkage studies listed seven genes as likely to increase risk for a later diagnosis of the disorder. Two more recent reviews have suggested that the evidence is currently strongest for two genes known as dysbindin (DTNBP1) and neuregulin (NRG1), with a number of other genes (such as COMT, RGS4, PPP3CC, ZDHHC8, DISC1, and AKT1) showing some early promising results that have not yet been fully replicated.

In 2007, British researches have identified seven different genetic variations that are associated with schizophrenia and which all lie within or very near a gene FXYD6. This gene, which lies on the long arm of chromosome 11, plays an important role in regulating Na/K homeostasis.

Evidence for of schizophrenia loci on each chromosome
This picture suggests that it is unlikely that one major locus exists for schizophrenia. It seems more likely that schizophrenia belongs to a class of complex disorders that have a genetic predisposition.

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References & Bibliography


Papers

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