Just to explain schizophrenia...
(Schizophrenia is a serious, potentially chronic mental disorder and disabling brain disease, which affects thinking, emotions and behaviour. Contrary to common belief, schizophrenia is not split personality.)
A gene that is amongst one of the most studied ‘schizophrenia gene’ is believed to control the birth of new neurons. According to the March 20th issue of cell, findings suggest that loss or lack of this gene may lead to an escalated risk of behavioral abnormalities, This crucial gene is known as DISC1 (disrupted in schizophrenia 1).
Schizophrenia is a severe brain illness, caused by many ‘risk’ genes, DISC1 being one of them.
(Schizophrenia is a serious, potentially chronic mental disorder and disabling brain disease, which affects thinking, emotions and behaviour. Contrary to common belief, schizophrenia is not split personality.)
A gene that is amongst one of the most studied ‘schizophrenia gene’ is believed to control the birth of new neurons. According to the March 20th issue of cell, findings suggest that loss or lack of this gene may lead to an escalated risk of behavioral abnormalities, This crucial gene is known as DISC1 (disrupted in schizophrenia 1).
Schizophrenia is a severe brain illness, caused by many ‘risk’ genes, DISC1 being one of them.
Studies of a very large Scottish family with a high incidence of mental diseases, found that family members who develop psychiatric disorders carry a mutated DISC1 gene.
Later biochemical evidence revealed a role for the gene in growth and migration of neurons.
Mice were tested and it was shown that mice with the abnormal version of the gene tended to develop psychiatric disorders similar to the ones found in humans.
Mice were tested and it was shown that mice with the abnormal version of the gene tended to develop psychiatric disorders similar to the ones found in humans.
In addition, the protein encoded by the gene (DISC1) blocks the activity of GSK3b, a protein that's the target of lithium treatments used by doctors for the treatment of bipolar disease.
In conclusion, either the lack of DISC1 or the mutation in DISC1 can greatly increase chances of developing schizophrenia and other mental diseases such as bipolar disease and extreme depression; and not to mention, without it the growth and migration of neurons could be restricted.
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