The genetic make-up of a human has been under a microscope since the time the microscope was invented. It is the belief of most scientists that the gene is the answer to all questions and all diseases.
I recently came across an article titled Amount of Gene Surplus Determines Severity of Mental Retardation in Males, Researchers Find, which spoke about a new theory. The new theory says that excess copies of a gene can cause mental handicap. The author also adds that mental retardation is due to extra copies of the GDI1 gene.
The author highlighted the fact that around 2-3 of the population has a mental handicap, and then went on to stress the fact that a defect on the X-chromosome can be one of the reasons for mental handicap. The defect on the X-chromosome is the cause of mental handicap in about 12 of the patients. A few X-linked mental retardation chromosomes were found in people who were lacking of GDI1 gene. Another shocking discovery was the fact that only men seemed to be affected with this retardation. The reason for only males being afflicted is that the men have only one version of X-chromosome. On the other hand, for a woman, there is a reserve copy of the chromosome which means that the defect can be masked. The author also pointed out that this is the first time that a connection has been discovered between the number of copies of genes on the chromosome and the degree of the mental diseases.
During the course, the most interesting part had been genetics, because I learned the reason why each and every person is different. It is due to the chromosomes that we are all different. When I learned this part, I also learned a little bit about Down syndrome I had initially assumed that Down syndrome was caused due to some damage to the brain during or after birth. However, that was not the reason. I learned from the professor that it is a hereditary disease, and the cause of Down syndrome is the presence of one more chromosome or a 21st chromosome. Hence, I think this article is related to what I learned in class, as this article also says that mental handicap is more dangerous in patients with 5 copies than with 2 copies. The writer says that the possibility that a person will be mentally handicapped depends on the number of chromosomes.
The article is a path-breaker as it paves way for further research on the subject. Up to now, the general understanding of why people were mentally handicapped was vague. But as this paper points out, there could be something in the gene make-up which contributes to this defect. More research should be conducted on this phenomenon to understand how the mental health of children can be improved and maybe also predicted.
I recently came across an article titled Amount of Gene Surplus Determines Severity of Mental Retardation in Males, Researchers Find, which spoke about a new theory. The new theory says that excess copies of a gene can cause mental handicap. The author also adds that mental retardation is due to extra copies of the GDI1 gene.
The author highlighted the fact that around 2-3 of the population has a mental handicap, and then went on to stress the fact that a defect on the X-chromosome can be one of the reasons for mental handicap. The defect on the X-chromosome is the cause of mental handicap in about 12 of the patients. A few X-linked mental retardation chromosomes were found in people who were lacking of GDI1 gene. Another shocking discovery was the fact that only men seemed to be affected with this retardation. The reason for only males being afflicted is that the men have only one version of X-chromosome. On the other hand, for a woman, there is a reserve copy of the chromosome which means that the defect can be masked. The author also pointed out that this is the first time that a connection has been discovered between the number of copies of genes on the chromosome and the degree of the mental diseases.
During the course, the most interesting part had been genetics, because I learned the reason why each and every person is different. It is due to the chromosomes that we are all different. When I learned this part, I also learned a little bit about Down syndrome I had initially assumed that Down syndrome was caused due to some damage to the brain during or after birth. However, that was not the reason. I learned from the professor that it is a hereditary disease, and the cause of Down syndrome is the presence of one more chromosome or a 21st chromosome. Hence, I think this article is related to what I learned in class, as this article also says that mental handicap is more dangerous in patients with 5 copies than with 2 copies. The writer says that the possibility that a person will be mentally handicapped depends on the number of chromosomes.
The article is a path-breaker as it paves way for further research on the subject. Up to now, the general understanding of why people were mentally handicapped was vague. But as this paper points out, there could be something in the gene make-up which contributes to this defect. More research should be conducted on this phenomenon to understand how the mental health of children can be improved and maybe also predicted.
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