The Genomics of Turner Syndrome and Sex-Biased Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Turner Syndrome (TS) is a developmental disorder caused by the absence of all, or part, of an X chromosome. Subjects with TS exhibit a well-defined neurocognitive profile characterised by deficits in aspects of memory, attention and social functioning. In this Chapter, we focus on recent work analysing the genomic underpinnings of these cognitive endophenotypes. Through studying TS, we are likely to gain insights into the neural processes impacted upon by X-linked genes. As males and females differ with respect to their complements of X-linked genes, work on TS may provide clues as to the genetic basis of sex-specific vulnerability to certain neuropsychiatric disorders.