Epigenetic clue to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Same genes, different activity

Same genes, different activity (Image: Image Source/Getty)

There’s an interesting article and an editorial in the New Scientist about epigenetics a subject highlighted in a previous post linked to a Radio 4 broadcast. The New Scientist article  addresses the issue that whilst monozygotic twins share genetic material the risk of developing schizophrenia if your identical twin has it is less that 50%. What the studies reference is new evidence that people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have changes in gene activity caused by their environment.

Jonathan Mill at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and colleagues scanned the genome of 22 pairs of identical twins – chosen because one twin in each pair was diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

As expected, the twins had identical DNA. However, they showed significant differences in chemical “epigenetic” markings – changes that do not alter the sequence of DNA but leave chemical marks on genes that dictate how active they are. These changes were on genes that have been linked with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The full article is well worth a read

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