Molecular aspects of Down syndrome

Molecular aspects of Down syndrome (DS), a major genetic cause for mental retardation, commonly associated with trisomy 21 are discussed. Two different hypotheses have been speculated to better understand the disease. One believes that increased gene dosage contributes to the phenotypic abnormalities; the other correlates genetic imbalance with DS pathogenesis. To sustain these hypotheses, different murine models have been developed. Experimental models as well as sequencing of human chromosome 21 helped in speculating a few possible candidate genes for DS. However, the phenotypic changes involved with this neurological disorder vis-a-vis the enhanced number of genes, still remain unexplained. Improvement in screening pattern, model system, as well as better understanding of the disease etiology may help in developing efficacious therapeutic regimes for DS.