Merging genetic and environmental effects in the Iowa Adoption Studies: focus on depression.
BACKGROUND
It is generally acknowledged that the vast majority of serious mental disorders have significant genetic contributions that manifest complex inheritance patterns. Despite this, few gene polymorphisms have been unambiguously identified as risk factors for behavioral illness and the mechanisms through which these select polymorphisms affect human behavior is completely unclear. One of the major reasons for this lack of progress is the phenomenon of gene-environment (GxE) interactions.


METHODS
We review prior evidence of GxE interactions for major depressive disorder (MDD) in the Iowa Adoption Studies.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate the usefulness of these cohorts to direct G effects for MDD.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that further use of the adoption paradigm will generate critical insight into the effects of candidate genes for a variety of complex human behavioral illnesses.
Philibert
Robert
R
University of lowa, lowa City, IA 52242-1000, USA. robertphilibert@uiowa.edu
D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D056892:Mediator Complex; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment
C460107:MED12 protein, human; D056892:Mediator Complex; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone