Recent advances in the genetics of schizophrenia

Abstract

Although Kraepelin emphasized the genetic tendency for schizophrenia at the beginning of this century, it was not until studies of schizophrenic adoptees were reported in the 1960's, that the inherited contribution was shown to be important and distinguishable from environmental factors. Now with the advent of new technology, both in the fields of molecular genetics and in brain imaging, it is possible to search for genes systematically throughout the genome for a major gene linked to schizophrenia and also to examine brain pathology that may be a consequence of this gene. In view of several morphologic studies now in the literature, it is likely that a gene for schizophrenia will be found to be a brain growth factor determining the asymmetrical distribution and growth of neurons. Studies thus far have been negative exploring regions on chromosomes 5, 11, 22 and random others throughout the autosomes. With DNA contributed from an international set of families within which multiple members have schizophrenia, we have examined linkage to the X chromosome (work performed in the laboratory of TJ Crow, UK). This work has resulted in some small positive scores for linkage which we are continuing to explore. These data, as well as a review of recent contributions by other investigators in the field, will be discussed.