Genetics advances and learning disability.
BACKGROUND
Medicine is rapidly becoming molecular medicine, and little escapes the grasp of modern genetics. Most disorders associated with learning disability have at least a genetic component influencing their expression; in many disorders, disturbances of genetic mechanisms play a pivotal role.


OBJECTIVE
Dynamic mutations, imprinting mechanisms and gene-dosage effects are explained with reference to genetic disorders that lead to learning disability.


METHODS
A review of recent important studies in the genetics of learning disability.


RESULTS
A host of new genetic connections to conditions associated with learning disability have been made.


CONCLUSIONS
A basic understanding of these genetic connections is important for all learning disability psychiatrists if they are to follow the rapid changes--already beginning to influence our practice--that hold immense promise for the future.
Muir
W J
WJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
D017204:Angelman Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*