Theory: Mental disorders are tug-of-war between parental genes
November 14, 2008 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Epigenetics and Environment, Mental health and Behavior
A new theory has emerged about the genetic basis of mental disorders, and it has to do with our parental genes fighting for dominance.
The theory outlines that genes from the father’s sperm are in an evolutionary tug-of-war with genes from the mother’s egg. Whichever becomes dominant tips brain development that direction. An excerpt from the NY Times -
A strong bias toward the father pushes a developing brain along the autistic spectrum, toward a fascination with objects, patterns, mechanical systems, at the expense of social development. A bias toward the mother moves the growing brain along what the researchers call the psychotic spectrum, toward hypersensitivity to mood, their own and others’. This, according to the theory, increases a child’s risk of developing schizophrenia later on, as well as mood problems like bipolar disorder and depression.
A support of the theory are the sister syndromes Angelman and Prader-Will. The Angelman syndrome is characterized by jerky movements, frequent laughing or smiling and an unusually happy disposition. The syndrome is caused by a deletion of genes on the maternally inherited chromosome 15. Contrast that to Prader-Willi syndrome, where individuals are placid, compliant and low-maintenance. The syndrome is caused by a deletion in the same region of a paternally inherited chromosome 15.
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