Axon Guidance Receptor Gene ROBO1 and Dyslexia
In an early online release from PLoS Genetics, researchers report that a locus on chromosome 3, DYX5, is linked to dyslexia in one large family and speech-sound disorder in a subset of small families. A decrease in or absence of ROBO1 gene activity appears to be associated with dyslexia.
…data suggest that a slight disturbance in neuronal axon crossing across the midline between brain hemispheres, dendrite guidance, or another function of ROBO1 may manifest as a specific reading disability in human.
glad sure I am don’t dislexia have!!!
Cheasea fc, Thanks for the comment. I’m glad if you’re glad. BTW, we’re big English football fans at our house too!
After several decades of proving I can absorb abstract knowledge, get high test scores dealing with it, but have a an almost entire inability to apply the knowledge, or become completely confounded and ‘frozen’ if the pieces of a complex stucture or system are not within close proximity and ‘orderly’. A psychologist suggested that I might have a version of dyslexia that I’ve never heard of – essentially that the two hemispheres work well in and of themselves, but don’t communicate well when they need to work together. Does this have much of a connection with Robo1 or other genes that can be tested for?
D.R.: Thanks for the comment. Your situation is very interesting. I don’t think we understand enough about the genetic underpinnings of dyslexia to develop genetic tests yet. But, as genes are discovered and their biological pathways determined, we’ll reach a greater understanding of cognition – an incredibly complex part of our bodies and lives.
And thank you back.
What you said is, more or less, ‘just the point’. I myself am just a single ‘data point’ in the tangle that we call understanding – and perhaps I’ve made my little contribution here to plant a seed for future thought.
What would be helpful (to some and confusing to others, perhaps) is a generalized concept of the mental functions that can be interferred with if there is faulty communication betwixt the sides of the brain – surely with a disclaimer of some sort to protect what ever may need to be protected.
Sorry if that is a little self-centered in my quest to understand my own ‘glass ceiling’ as they so aptly put it in professional circles.
It is so peculiar to know one’s own ‘power’ of thought, but be stymied by some impediment that is so ‘invisible’ as to defy not only words to describe, but internal thoughts to pinpoint what is going on.
I take it that the cheek swab test is still just a wish and is yet to come – for identifying errant genes (Robo1, etc).
All the same, take care and good luck.
D.R.
D.R.: As much as I believe in the power of genetic information, we’re definitely a long way off from a cheek swab test for complex diseases like dyslexia. As scientists work to find causes, there are many trying to find a “cure.” I hope they find some way of helping you improve the function of your brain to your satisfaction. At the very least, you sound like you’re doing quite well. At least it seems so from your thoughtful comments. All the best!