Amish revisited: next-generation sequencing studies of psychiatric disorders among the Plain people.

Amish revisited: next-generation sequencing studies of psychiatric disorders among the Plain people. Trends Genet. 2013 Feb 16; Authors: Hou L, Faraci G, Chen DT, Kassem L, Schulze TG, Shugart YY, McMahon FJ Abstract The rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has led to renewed interest in the potential contribution of rarer forms of genetic variation to complex non-mendelian phenotypes such as psychiatric illnesses. Although challenging, family-based studies offer some advantages, especially in communities with large families and a limited number of founders. Here we revisit family-based studies of mental illnesses in traditional Amish and Mennonite communities - known collectively as the Plain people. We discuss the new opportunities for NGS in these populations, with particular emphasis on investigating psychiatric disorders. We also address some of the challenges facing NGS-based studies of complex phenotypes in founder populations. PMID: 23422049 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Trends in Genetics : TIG - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Trends Genet Source Type: research
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