Major Study Into Genetic Causes of Depression
In the life of every person,depression will affect up to 25% of the population at some point . A strong genetic component
has been shown by it. Take an example, if one of your close family members has depression, your chance of also being a so is 3 to 4 times the general population risk. Researchers are trying to find the genetic causes of depression and believe the answers could lie with short DNA sequences which work as 'genetic switches' controlling key genes in a part of the brain that influences mood.
These switches ensure that certain genes are only used in the correct area of the brain at the right times and in the right dose. Any dissimilarity in these can cause imbalances in the amount of important proteins in the brain that may increase susceptibility to depression. Recently, it was found that these switches were so important in evolution that they have been kept, nearly unchanged.Researchers explained that only by comparing the genomes of species as diverse as mice, marsupials and birds has it been possible to identify these switches as, they are located far away from the genes they control. The distances involved are as surprising as having a tubelight in US with the switch for controlling it.
Comparison of the genomes of different species has helped them to identify the switches responsible for controlling genes known to be involved in depression, addiction, obesity and inflammatory pain. Researchers will study the effect of these 'switch' sequences and look at common variations found in these sequences using DNA samples taken from patients with chronic depression.It is hoped that it will also examine why some sufferers do not respond to anti-depressant treatments.Researchers said that this study would have not been possible even four years ago. It is only through advances in the DNA sequence of many different species that we can now use powerful computers to pick out the most important bits of the human genome that contains the switches needed to control genes.
This study has given hopes to discover how the same genes in different people are controlled in different ways in the different parts of the brain that control fear and mood and hope to find out how these differences may change the way that depressed patients respond to medicines.We can now study millions of genetic variations in the human genome but it is only studies like that that will allows us to track down those that are important in depression.
has been shown by it. Take an example, if one of your close family members has depression, your chance of also being a so is 3 to 4 times the general population risk. Researchers are trying to find the genetic causes of depression and believe the answers could lie with short DNA sequences which work as 'genetic switches' controlling key genes in a part of the brain that influences mood.These switches ensure that certain genes are only used in the correct area of the brain at the right times and in the right dose. Any dissimilarity in these can cause imbalances in the amount of important proteins in the brain that may increase susceptibility to depression. Recently, it was found that these switches were so important in evolution that they have been kept, nearly unchanged.Researchers explained that only by comparing the genomes of species as diverse as mice, marsupials and birds has it been possible to identify these switches as, they are located far away from the genes they control. The distances involved are as surprising as having a tubelight in US with the switch for controlling it.
Comparison of the genomes of different species has helped them to identify the switches responsible for controlling genes known to be involved in depression, addiction, obesity and inflammatory pain. Researchers will study the effect of these 'switch' sequences and look at common variations found in these sequences using DNA samples taken from patients with chronic depression.It is hoped that it will also examine why some sufferers do not respond to anti-depressant treatments.Researchers said that this study would have not been possible even four years ago. It is only through advances in the DNA sequence of many different species that we can now use powerful computers to pick out the most important bits of the human genome that contains the switches needed to control genes.
This study has given hopes to discover how the same genes in different people are controlled in different ways in the different parts of the brain that control fear and mood and hope to find out how these differences may change the way that depressed patients respond to medicines.We can now study millions of genetic variations in the human genome but it is only studies like that that will allows us to track down those that are important in depression.
