Abstract
Evidence for substantial genetic contribution to bipolar and related affective disorders is provided by family, twin, and adoption studies. However, uncertainties concerning the mode of genetic transmission, etiologic heterogeneity, and phenotypic boundaries compromise the prospects of unraveling the underlying genetic defect. Molecular genetic techniques, including recombinant DNA technology, will likely have a key role in resolving some of these issues. The implications of these advances for affective disorder research are discussed here in the light of recent genetic findings linking bipolar affective illness to gene markers on chromosome 11 and the X chromosome. The topics covered include the principles and promise of the recombinant DNA approach and other molecular biology techniques; the limitations in studying disorders typified by nosological uncertainties, unknown mode of inheritance, and etiologic heterogeneity; and the potential contribution of molecular genetic strategies to the elucidation of genotypic variation.
This research was supported by grants MH 42 535, MH 44115, MH 36 963, and MH 43 979 from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), grant number 3350 from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, a grant from the Keck Foundation, and a Research Scientist Development Award (Level II) MH00176 from the NIMH.
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Baron, M. (1990). Molecular Genetic Studies in Affective Disorders. In: Bunney, W.E., Hippius, H., Laakmann, G., Schmauss, M. (eds) Neuropsychopharmacology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74034-3_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74034-3_11
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