A single dominant gene can account for eye tracking dysfunctions and schizophrenia in offspring of discordant twins.
Eye movement dysfunctions (EMDs), detectable during smooth pursuit, occur in a majority of schizophrenics and in 45% of their first-degree relatives. Previous data suggest that they represent a biologic marker for schizophrenia. To determine the mode of transmission of the schizophrenia-EMD complex, the eye movements of offspring of monozygotic and dizygotic twins were recorded. One group of twins was discordant for schizophrenia; the other group for manic depression or reactive psychosis. The data suggest that EMDs and at least some schizophrenias can be considered expressions of a single underlying trait that is transmitted by an autosomal dominant gene.
Holzman
P S
PS
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass 02138.
Kringlen
E
E
Matthysse
S
S
Flanagan
S D
SD
Lipton
R B
RB
Cramer
G
G
Levin
S
S
Lange
K
K
Levy
D L
DL
D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010375:Pedigree; D011336:Probability; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D005819:Genetic Markers