Scientists discover genetic ‘missing links’ underlying mechanism of psychiatric diseases

Since the completion of the groundbreaking Human Genome Project in 2003, researchers have discovered changes to hundreds of parts of DNA, called genetic variants, that are associated with autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and other psychiatric diseases. Now, a new, large-scale study has linked many of those changes in DNA to their molecular effects in the brain, revealing for the first time mechanisms behind those diseases.In 10 studies published today in  Science and two related journals, UCLA researchers and collaborators from more than a dozen other institutions around the world provide a comprehensive data set on the molecular workings of the brain. The findings offer a roadmap for development of a new generation of therapies for psychiatric con ditions.“This work provides several missing links necessary for understanding the mechanisms of psychiatric diseases,” saidDr. Daniel Geschwind, a senior author of two of the papers, and the Gordon and Virginia MacDonald Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics at  theDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.During the past decade, scientists have compared the genetics of people with psychiatric diseases with those of healthy individuals, seeking genes that have different sequences between the two groups. Often, however, the findings raised more questions than answers. Scientists not only discovered genes linked to the diseases, but they also uncovered hundreds of areas of DNA found in between genes, called regulatory ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news