Dyslexia is a complex brain disorder which is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. It is a common reading and spelling disability that is found in at least 1 in 10 Americans.
A recent discovery has been made by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and their colleagues at with the University of Oxford that the gene involved with dyslexia is in the region of Chromosome 6p22.
The researchers looked at 7 different variants that lie outside of the protein KIAA0319 which has previously been identified through other studies of this gene to be the brains developmental area also associated with reading and spelling abilities. There has been a discovery of a protein which reduces the KIAA0319 gene therefore leaving it unable to function. With the expression of KIAA0319 being reduced the development of the regions of the brain that requires this gene is now dysfunctional.
The studies also showed that the variant did not code for protein but instead might mean that the variant have the potential to effect the regulation of the KIAA0319 gene by acting as it’s on and off switch.
"In addition to identifying a variant that may increase the risk for dyslexia, the approach we used in this study may pave the way to identifying elusive variants for cancer, heart disease and other common, complex disorders." said NHGRI Scientific Director Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D.
The actual function of the gene have not yet been identified but the same approach will also be used to identify the variant for other complex diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
References:
http://www.genome.gov/27530881
http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1000436
Image:
Immunofluorescent image of KIAA0319 protein in cells. By: Antonio Velayos-Baeza, Ph.D., University of Oxford
