Molecular Genetics and its Application to the Study of Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Recent advances in molecular genetics have enabled the detailed study of gene structure as well as the detection of genetic differences between individuals. These have complemented classical genetic studies such that it is now possible to produce a detailed genetic map of the whole human genome. We can place within this genetic map the causal locus of any genetic disease without knowledge of the underlying biochemical pathology. Moreover, molecular techniques are available to locate eventually the causal gene itself. This approach has obvious application to psychiatry, where the underlying biological bases of psychiatric illnesses are obscure, but for some a clear genetic component to aetiology exists. Although the complexity of psychiatric illness will make such approaches difficult, they nevertheless offer real hope that genes causal in mental illness will be identified and that this will lead to the development of novel therapies.