Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

Researchers Link Noncoding Genetic Variants to Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics studying the DNA of children with severe language problems say they have identified genetic variants in the 3' untranslated region genome (3'UTRome), which is part of the noncoding part of the genome.

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Next-Gen Sequencing Identifies Non-Coding Variation Disrupting miRNA-Binding Sites in Neurological Disorders”) published in Molecular Psychiatry.

rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)”>”Having too much of a protein at important points in development could affect how neurons and neuronal circuits develop and function, which could in turn could affect how children develop their language skills,” added Dr. Vernes.

rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)”>The researchers went on to explore the 3'UTRome in other neurodevelopmental disorders. They identified 25 further genetic changes in the DNA of individuals with autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder that are thought to control protein levels in the same way. “We are tapping into a new and promising source of genetic variation,” continued Dr. Vernes. “Our study shows that the identification and testing of noncoding variants will foster our understanding of the genetic causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, which is crucial in the long-term for the design of new and effective therapeutics.”

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