Generalist genes and cognitive neuroscience.
Multivariate genetic research suggests that a single set of genes affects most cognitive abilities and disabilities. This finding already has far-reaching implications for cognitive neuroscience, and will become even more revealing when this - presumably large - set of generalist genes is identified. Similar to other complex disorders and dimensions, molecular genetic research on cognitive abilities and disabilities is adopting genome-wide association strategies. These strategies involve very large samples to detect DNA associations of small effect size using microarrays that simultaneously assess hundreds of thousands of DNA markers. When this set of generalist genes is identified, it can be used to provide solid footholds in the climb towards a systems-level understanding of how genetically driven brain processes work together to affect diverse cognitive abilities and disabilities.
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Number P080, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
Lee M
LM
Butcher
Joanna Kj
JK
Kennedy
Robert
R
Plomin
D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D019336:Cognitive Science / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D055614:Genetic Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics*; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*