Neurogenetics

doi:10.1017/9781911623083.009

Chapter 7 - Neurogenetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 March 2025

David Curtis

Edited by

Niruj Agrawal and

Norman Poole

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Niruj Agrawal: Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
Norman Poole: Affiliation:
South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

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Summary

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first explains fundamental concepts in human genetics. Accounts of genetic findings involve concepts which can prove challenging. Terminology may be unfamiliar and some words have specialised meanings and may not always be used consistently. The first part aims to provide an overview of the key concepts. The subject matter is intrinsically dense and can be hard to take in, so the reader may wish to skim parts of this section and then refer back to it when necessary.

The second part shows how these concepts relate to a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. Before considering individual conditions, it is worth presenting some general principles which characterise the relationship between genetic variation and human disease, in particular in relationship to neuropsychiatric conditions. Modern research has impacted on how we think about this relationship, and so current accounts are somewhat different from what one finds in older sources.

Keywords

Gene chromosome DNA allele variant heritability CNV Huntington’s disease Alzheimer’s disease autism schizophrenia

Type: Chapter
Information: Essential Neuroscience for Psychiatrists , pp. 224 - 259

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781911623083.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Key References

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