Manic depression gene put in limbo
Article Abstract:
A paper was published in the February 26, 1987 issue of the scientific journal 'Nature' suggesting that a gene supposed to cause manic depression in the Amish people of Pennsylvania was located on chromosome 11. Chromosomes are cellular structures containing genetic information. Approximately one percent of the population of North America and Europe suffer from a psychiatric disorder known as manic depression, which is characterized by violent mood swings. The disease is inherited in some but not in all cases. The Amish people are all descendants of 30 original couples, therefore their genealogy, or inheritance of certain genetic traits, can be easily studied. Further work on the isolation of the gene which causes manic depression has shown that the gene is not in fact specific to chromosome 11, as was reported earlier. The discrepancy was seen when 40 additional subjects were included in the analysis with the original 81. The lod score, which is a logarithmic measure of the linkage of one gene to other genes whose chromosomal locations are known, did not show linkage of the gene to chromosome 11. After further analysis, it was determined that some of the original patients had been misdiagnosed for manic depression by psychiatrists. These results led to the conclusion either that the gene for manic depression in the Amish is not on chromosome 11 or else there may be more than one gene involved in manic depression, one on chromosome 11 and others located elsewhere in the chromosome set.
Publication Name: Science
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8075
Year: 1989
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Focusing on the eyeless gene
Article Abstract:
Research on fruit fly genes conducted by Walter Gehring and colleagues may have identified a master control gene, known as eyeless. Eyeless appears to direct the development of eyes in Drosophila, such that its activation will cause eyes to be made on wings, on legs, even on the backs of heads.
Publication Name: Science
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8075
Year: 1995
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New clock gene cloned
Article Abstract:
A gene called 'timeless' is the second gene found to regulate circadian rhythms in the fruit fly, Drosophila. The gene 'per,' had been found earlier. The respectively encoded proteins TIM and PER bind to each other, and mutations in one gene block normal cycling in the other.
Publication Name: Science
Subject: Science and technology
ISSN: 0036-8075
Year: 1995
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