AP31651

Science Summary

Scientists have cast the largest genomic dragnet of any psychiatric disorder to date and have found 108 chromosomal sites harboring inherited variations in the genetic code linked to schizophrenia. Of those 108 genetic markers 83 of them are new discoveries. The last study conducted in 2011 only showed five significant peaks. The dramatic rise in matching genetic variations associated with Schizophrenia has been largely attributed to the enhanced ability to detect subtle effects of common gene variants that comes with larger sample sizes. Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health, one funder of the study was quoted in the article as saying “ While the suspect variation identified so far only explains only about 3.5 percent of the risk for schizophrenia, these results warrant exploring whether using such data to calculate an individual's risk for developing the disorder might someday be useful in screening for preventive interventions," (National Institute of Mental Health) These results show a greater need for studying the effects genetic programing has on the brain and could allow societal norms to be put in place to help mitigate the chance of “constitutional vulnerability” leading to stress causing the onset of schizophrenia or it’s symptoms. (Wood, 396)

References:

NIH/National Institute of Mental Health. (2014, July 22). Schizophrenia's genetic 'skyline' rising as genetic code linked to illness grows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 26, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140722091721.htm

Wood, Samuel E., Ellen R. Green. Wood, and Denise Roberts. Boyd. //Mastering the World of Psychology//. Fourth ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2011. Print.

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