常见的变异基因易诱发精神分裂症和躁郁症

时间：2011-09-20 05:53:10

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Common genetic¹ variants² contribute to the risk of schizophrenia（精神分裂症） and bipolar disorder³, an international research consortium has discovered. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are common and often devastating⁴ brain disorders⁵, affecting around one per cent of the world's population. A team including Cardiff University scientists has found new molecular⁶ evidence that 11 genetic regions have strong links with these diseases, including six regions not previously⁷ observed. The researchers also found that many of these DNA⁸ variations contribute to both diseases.

The findings, reported by the Psychiatric Genome-Wide Association Study Consortium (PGC), represent significant advances in these severe and debilitating⁹ disorders.

The findings, based on genetic data from tens of thousands of patients, have just been published online in two papers in the journal Nature Genetics. Professors Michael O'Donovan, Michael Owen and Nick Craddock from the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff's School of Medicine, Cardiff University, made a significant contribution of data, analysis and management to the study.

Professor O'Donovan said: "The genetic variants we have identified are common in the population -- everyone carries many of them, but people with the disorders carry more.

"The success of this study demonstrates the need for international co-ordination in harnessing data from very large samples to exploit the power of genetics to reveal new insights. Over the next two years we expect to have data from study samples that are three or four times larger than those we have now, and this can be expected to have the same impact for our research as ever more powerful particle accelerators have had in physics."

Professor Owen added: "Many genes¹⁰ are clearly involved in these disorders and it will be a few years yet till we are able to see a large part of the picture. However, for the first time, we are in a position to make tentative（试验性的） functional¹¹ links between some of the genes identified.

"One particularly exciting finding is the involvement of a type of molecule¹², known as a microRNA, which acts as a molecular switch to turn off other genes. This microRNA is also known to regulate aspects of the development and maturation of nerve cells in the brain. The findings suggest disruption of these development processes as likely factors in the origins of mental disorder."

Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder usually strike in late adolescence¹³ or early adulthood¹⁴. Some of the most prominent symptoms in schizophrenia are persistent¹⁵ delusions¹⁶（妄想，错觉） , hallucinations（幻觉） and cognitive¹⁷ problems. Bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive illness) is characterized by episodes of severe mood problems including mania¹⁸（狂躁） and depression. Despite the availability of treatments, these illnesses are usually chronic¹⁹, often leads to prolonged disability and personal suffering. Family history is a strong risk factor for both disorders. The new findings are further evidence for the general assumption that dozens of genes, along with environmental factors, contribute to disease risk.

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1 genetic
adj.遗传的，遗传学的
参考例句：
It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。 Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 variants
n.变体( variant的名词复数 )；变种；变型；（词等的）变体
参考例句：
Those variants will be preserved in the'struggle for existence". 这些变异将在“生存竞争”中被保留下来。来自辞典例句 Like organisms, viruses have variants, generally called strains. 与其他生物一样，病毒也有变种，一般称之为株系。来自辞典例句

3 disorder
n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
参考例句：
When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。 It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

4 devastating
adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的
参考例句：
It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。 Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 disorders
n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调
参考例句：
Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。来自《简明英汉词典》 The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。来自《简明英汉词典》

6 molecular
adj.分子的；克分子的
参考例句：
The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

7 previously
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。 Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

8 DNA
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句：
DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。 Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

9 debilitating
a.使衰弱的
参考例句：
The debilitating disease made him too weak to work. 这个令他衰弱的病，使他弱到没有办法工作。 You may soon leave one debilitating condition or relationship forever. 你即将永远地和这段霉运说拜拜了。

10 genes
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句：
You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。来自《简明英汉词典》 Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

11 functional
adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的
参考例句：
The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。 The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

12 molecule
n.分子，克分子
参考例句：
A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈?f婘??妈?成的。 This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

13 adolescence
n.青春期，青少年
参考例句：
Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。 The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。

14 adulthood
n.成年，成人期
参考例句：
Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。 Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

15 persistent
adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的
参考例句：
Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。 She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

16 delusions
n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想
参考例句：
the delusions of the mentally ill 精神病患者的妄想 She wants to travel first-class: she must have delusions of grandeur. 她想坐头等舱旅行，她一定自以为很了不起。来自辞典例句

17 cognitive
adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的
参考例句：
As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。 The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

18 mania
n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好
参考例句：
Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。 Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。

19 chronic
adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的
参考例句：
Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。 Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。