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DCDC2 genetic variants and susceptibility to developmental dyslexia
Cecilia Marino1, Haiying Meng, Sara Mascheretti
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Scientific Institute Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy. cecilia.marino@bp.lnf.it
Psychiatric Genetics
|September 2, 2011
Summary
The gene DCDC2 is linked to developmental dyslexia, influencing both reading and memory skills. This study in Italian families provides further evidence for DCDC2
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Developmental disorders
Background:
- Developmental dyslexia is a heritable condition with significant genetic influence.
- Genetic factors contribute 44-75% to reading performance variance.
- A quantitative trait locus in 6p21.3, encoding DCDC2, is strongly implicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of two DCDC2 markers in developmental dyslexia.
- To explore the association of DCDC2 with reading and memory phenotypes.
- To analyze these associations in Italian nuclear families.
Main Methods:
- Studied 303 nuclear families with a proband diagnosed with developmental dyslexia.
- Utilized 6p21.3 markers BV677278 and rs793862.
- Employed the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test for association analyses with seven phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Found significant association between reading skills and the BV677278 deletion (P=0.025-0.029).
- Identified a strong association between memory performance and the BV677278 allele 10 (P=0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Results support DCDC2's contribution to developmental dyslexia.
- DCDC2 appears to influence both reading and memory impairments.
- Findings enhance understanding of the genetic basis and phenotypic complexity of dyslexia.
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