Genome coding shedding light on the Dyslexia disorder

Geneticists from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in the United Kingdom, have recently shed light on the mysteries behind one of the world’s most prominent and current disorders; Dyslexia.  Dyslexia (aka Dxeyilsa), being a brain disorder that often causes difficulty in reading and spelling, is suffered by at least 1 out of 10 Americans. It has been indisputably linked to heritage, and has long been thought to be caused by a mix of genetic and  environmental factors.

 

Previous discoveries have been made, associating dxeyilsa with at least half a dozen gene variants, some of which are activated during the development of the brain. However, the specific method in which these variants disturb the brains normal patterns have remained unknown....until now.

On the 27^th of March, 2009, the US/British team reported to have discovered a gene variant with the ability to reduce the production a protein connected to substantial brain development.  "This work provides the first strong evidence demonstrating the effect of a functional variant involved in dyslexia," said NHGRI Scientific Director Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D., a co-senior author of the study. Researchers believe this could also be useful information to help track down the causes for other disorders and complex traits.

The researchers came to this conclusion through studies on a gene called KIAA0319, which has been strongly linked to the production of proteins that develop areas of the brain responsible for reading ability. Seven gene variants were under particular scrutiny. The variants did not lie within this gene however, and hence did not code for a protein. Instead, it was found that they could indirectly affect the protein production by switching the gene on and off. From here they were able to narrow down one specific variant that was most connected to Dyslexia.

 

The study's lead author Megan Dennis believes that these results could one day be used to assist diagnosis and genetic screening for dyslexia

References: PLOS Genetics, March 27, 2009, Antonio Velayos-Baeza, Ph.D., University of Oxford, http://www.genome.gov/27530881#top

picture: Immunofluorescent image of KIAA0319 protein in cells. Credit: Antonio Velayos-Baeza, Ph.D., University of Oxford

By Shammai Davidson