DNA Deletion Tied to Cognitive Problems

September 11, 2008 | Source: Technology Review

A small deletion in a specific chunk of DNA can trigger a wide variety of cognitive problems, including autism, mental retardation, and developmental delay, according to research published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A number of studies using new gene microarray technology have shown that rearrangements of larger pieces of DNA–the equivalent of shuffling entire words, sentences, or pages–are surprisingly common and likely play a significant role in human health and disease.