Duplication of Gene Makes New Discovery

Researchers have found when they duplicate a single gene in mice it causes the mice to have seizures. Not only this, but also the mice begin to have manic-like behavior. To control this behavior, the team used a drug they believe could help those who are hyperactive and do not respond well to other treatments. The gene SHANK3 is the gene they duplicated and cause the mice to react negatively. The gene helps synapse work accordingly by encoding a protein that helps ensure messages are relayed properly between cells. SHANK3 gene is also linked to autism and schizophrenic conditions. At first when the mice were given duplicated genes they believed the mice had ADHD, but after giving the mice medications for the condition they saw that it made them worse. They knew at that point it was not ADHD. This discovery shows how important it is to know gene dosage.

Knowing about this can help find new treatments for symptoms like this. It is a very important research that can help create a better understanding of those who have a severe case of hyperactivity and be able to develop new medication for them.


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=extra-gene-makes-mice-manic