Gen Intelligence? Studies reveal the role of Special Genes in Williams Syndrome Patients

Although genetics is the most significant determinant for human intelligence, how certain genes affect intelligence is still mysterious. A multi-agency team led by University of Utah USTAR researchers have found a brain gene STX1A significant role in the level of intelligence displayed by patients with Williams syndrome. This study may have implications for the understanding of intelligence and the treatment of neurological diseases in the general population.Researchers at UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Salk Institute, and University of Utah found that variation in expression STX1A to be responsible for 15.6 percent of the variation in a group of 65 patients cognitive WAS, a high degree of confidence than the previous genetic studies. STX1A involved in the electrochemical process that occurs in brain synapses.The research team under the direction of Julie R. Korenberg, Ph.D., MD, Brain Institute investigator and professor of pediatrics USTAR University of Utah Medical School. The team published their study on 21 April 2010 in the open access online scientific journal PLoS ONE.This study describes a new approach in determining the relationship between gene expression and intelligence in patients with Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder caused by deletion of two dozen genes from chromosome 7, a small fraction of the nearly 30 thousand genes exist in humans. William's syndrome patients have a shortage of one copy of each gene was compared to the general population.Patients with Williams syndrome show an IQ of 60,
compared to an average of 100 in the general population. Patients with Williams syndrome tend to be very verbal and social, but the trouble with numbers, visual-spatial perception and memory."Patients with Williams syndrome loss of genetic material that is very very small," Korenberg says. "In almost all cases, the make-up together with the general population, so we know if we will just look very closely at a small number of genes. We analyzed ten different genes, but the data says, and clearly stood there STX1A associated with different levels of intelligence of patients, "said Korenberg.STX1A have a basic role in brain nerve transmission machinery. He sustains the process by which electrical signals moving from one nerve cell to nerve cell next. "In terms of brains, we talked about the basic tools as we look to STX1A," Korenberg says.This study suggests further research path that can be widely useful for patients with Williams syndrome and also the general public. "This study shows how the hand of nature forming part of intelligence in synapses. Monitoring gene expression may provide a unique view into the biology of neurological and genetic in Williams syndrome subjects and the possibility of the general public, "Korenberg says.Korenberg suggest that there may be future pharmaceutical treatments which can strengthen the function of synapses. "Recent studies may give way to help people in his brain function is weak, such as Williams syndrome, or people who have lost brain function, such as Alzheimer's disease patients," he said.The research team overcome with some creative problem solving, Korenberg said. Because the brain cells of patients alive is not available for study, cells of the lymphatic system limfoblastoid grown in culture to provide genetic material for analysis.In addition, the researchers developed a more accurate measure of intelligence test data to Williams syndrome, using a technique called Principal Component Analysis (PCA). In comparison with the standard IQ test that is suitable for the general population, the PCA approach can represent the pattern of Williams syndrome foundation of intelligence. Williams syndrome foundation set up for their relative strengths and weaknesses in the study group, and able to brighten the influence of specific genes such as STX1A more thoroughly.

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