title: Molecular genetics of dyslexia: an overview.
abstract: Dyslexia is a highly heritable learning disorder with a complex underlying genetic architecture. Over the past decade, researchers have pinpointed a number of candidate genes that may contribute to dyslexia susceptibility. Here, we provide an overview of the state of the art, describing how studies have moved from mapping potential risk loci, through identification of associated gene variants, to characterization of gene function in cellular and animal model systems. Work thus far has highlighted some intriguing mechanistic pathways, such as neuronal migration, axon guidance, and ciliary biology, but it is clear that we still have much to learn about the molecular networks that are involved. We end the review by highlighting the past, present, and future contributions of the Dutch Dyslexia Programme to studies of genetic factors. In particular, we emphasize the importance of relating genetic information to intermediate neurobiological measures, as well as the value of incorporating longitudinal and developmental data into molecular designs.
authors.affiliation: Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrion-Castillo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Simon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058068:Endophenotypes; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009426:Netherlands; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C510451:DCDC2 protein, human; C478878:DNAAF4 protein, human; C500377:KIAA0319 protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins
keywords: dyslexia; molecular genetics; review