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A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
Published on: June 15, 2011
Genetic or epigenetic difference causing discordance between monozygotic twins as a clue to molecular basis of mental
T Kato1, K Iwamoto, C Kakiuchi
1Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan. kato@brain.riken.go.jp
Abstract:
Classical twin research focused on differentiating genetic factors from environmental factors by comparing the concordance rate between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic twins. On the other hand, recent twin research tries to identify genetic or epigenetic differences between MZ twins discordant for mental disorders. There are a number of reports of MZ twins discordant for genetic disorders caused by genetic or epigenetic differences of known pathogenic genes. In the case of mental disorder research, for which the causative gene has not been established yet, we are trying to identify the 'pathogenic gene' by comprehensive analysis of genetic or epigenetic difference between discordant MZ twins. To date, no compelling evidence suggesting such difference between MZ twins has been reported. However, if the genetic or epigenetic difference responsible for the discordant phenotype is found, it will have impact on the biology of mental disorder, in which few conclusive molecular genetic evidences have been obtained.
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