Genetics: The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Gene Essay

Experts believe bipolar disorder is caused by an underlying problem with specific brain circuits and the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters (WebMD). There are five brain chemicals noradrenaline (norepinephrine), serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphin. Noradrenaline and serotonin are the most common chemicals linked to psychiatric mood disorders such as depression and bipolar (WebMD). Dopamine is linked to the pleasure system in the brain (WebMD). When a disruption happens to the dopamine system connects to psychosis and schizophrenia (WebMD). If there is too much dopamine in one place, it can cause psychosis. Dopamine motivates us (Deans, 2011). Dopamine is linked to everything, metabolism, evolution, and the brain (Dean, 2011). Serotonin is connected to many different body functions including sleep, wakefulness, eating and impulsivity (WebMD). Researchers believe that abnormal brain functioning of brain circuits that involve serotonin as a chemical messenger contributes to mood disorders (WebMD). Oxytocin is a hormone commonly associated with childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin plays a critical role in social and emotional behavior. Oxytocin increases the susceptibility to feeling fearful and anxious during stressful events (NWU, 2013).

The diagnosis of the inherited metabolic disorders is conducted by routine testing and is normally present at childbirth. Although this test is not conducted at childbirth many states are improving there testing systems with use of improved technology. Thus, if the disorder is not detected at birth may go undiagnosed until the symptoms present themselves on the patient, then a blood or DNA test can be conducted to find out what type of disorder it is.

The claim of the day was that genetic factors play a strong role in human development that genes alone can determine certain human behavioral characteristics. Plomin focused on behavioral genetics in the 21st century. He discusses quantitative genetics and molecular genetics along with three different directions for genetic research such as developmental genetics, environmental genetics, and multivariate genetics. The greatest need for quantitative genetic research going beyond heritability is asking how much genetic factors are important in behavioral development. The three different directions of

1. It is hypothesized that mood disorders are associated with heterogeneous dysregulation of the biogenic

Everyone has different feelings, stress levels, physical needs and physical abilities. Rightfully so this is what gives people an individual element in their character. However, there is a gene that regulates personality which so happens to be located on Chromosome 11 known as D4DR. This D4DR gene has a recipe that contains the ability to create a protein called a dopamine receptor. The main purpose of the protein is to catch Dopamine charges on the outside of the brain thus creating an electronic signal of it's own. The brain uses electrical signals in order to stimulate and enhance chemical reactions creating physical actions. This also allows the brain to do several things at once such as type this essay, inhale oxygen, think, pump blood, and operate internal organs.

p. 188). Although studies show that it is not always the case that BD is directly inherited from parents, there is a higher chance of mood disorders in the offspring of BD parents. Studies have shown that the environment and stress can cause “changes in gene expression during key developmental periods” (Pishva, 2014. p. 341). These stressors can affect individuals either through the parent during utero (while a baby is developing) or during their lifetime, as an adult. Environmental exposures during early postnatal life have been associated with mental disorders, including bipolar disorder. One example is maternal care. There is an association of maternal care and “hippocampus-related learning and memory processes” (Pishva, 2014. P. 341). The author asserts that environmental influences affect gene expression and behavior. There are many genes and proteins which are interdependent on each other, and if one is affected due to an environmental factor, it affects the other, increasing levels of stress regulator systems, which affect the behaviors of individuals (Pishva, 2014. p. 342). Environmental factors including drug use are also related with BD. This is not to say that the use of drugs can cause BD or other mood disorders, however, the presence of certain disorders and the use of drugs are sometimes connected. For instance, use of methamphetamine is associated with altered expression of major DNA enzyme DNMTI,

In neurotransmitter dysfunction, the biological approach to depression explains low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This has been linked with many forms of dysfunctional behaviour such as anxiety, excessive anger, poor social functioning and other mood disorders.

Symptoms: Include a discussion of symptoms in individuals heterozygous vs. homozygous for the defective gene if appropriate.

Bench 3 was analysing polymorphism resulting from a mutant allele of CYP1A1 diverting from a wild type. The mutant allele of the gene in question (CYP1A1) results in the presence of a restriction site for the enzyme Msp1. Subjects homozygous for the mutant allele show 2 bands (200bp and 140bp) due to the restriction enzyme cutting a site in the allele and those heterozygous show 3 bands (340bp, 200bp and 140bp) and those homozygous for the wild type show the one band (340bp).

(3) While successful drug therapies which act on neurotransmitters in the brain imply that depression is a neurobiological condition (4), the fact that such medications do not help about 20 percent of depression-sufferers seems to show that not all depression is due to such imbalances. Rather, depression is not caused by one single factor; it is most often caused by many different things. Genetics, biochemical factors, medicines and alcohol, developmental and other external factors, and relationships, marriage and children all have effect on the development of clinical depression. (5) The strongest hypotheses on the pathways to depression are in decreases in the activity of specific neurotransmitters, or the overactivity of certain hormonal systems. (3)

Results from MalaCards: With the help of GeneCardsSuite, a list of genes was retrieved. For ADHD, 67 genes were reported, 39 for ID, 86 for ASD and out 242 only top 100 closely related genes were taken for SZ (Table.1). Further common genes were isolated for multiple disorders. A list of common genes can be seen in the Table.2.

The roles of heredity, environment and epigenetics all aid in creating people, yet they are the reason why everyone is different. In this section, heredity, the environment and epigenetics will be discussed about their importance. Heredity is the genetic makeup the represents every individual. Heredity has been shown to “account for 50% of the variance in personality” (Lecci, 2015, sec. 4.6). Heredity might affect personality disorders, considering that “genetic…contributions to…borderline personality traits and substance use…accounted for all the associations…” (Few, Grant, Trull, Statham, Martin, Lynskey, & Agrawal, 2014, p. 2119). Heredity plays a part in the development of personality, because a person’s level of stress will contrast to

CCT is a highly heritable and one of the most correlated quntitive ocular trait (Ref). It is a hallmark of diseases such as keratoconus and a rsik facor for POAG in individuals with high IOP. In table 1B, we compile information on following fifteen genes and sequence variants identified through GWAS using CCT as a quantitative trait; 1. A kinase (PRKA) anchor protein 13 (AKAP13), 2. fibroblast growth factor 9 related (AVGR8/FGF9-SGCG); 3. Chondroitin sulfate synthase 1 (CHSY1); 4. Collagen type 8 alpha 2 (COL8A2); 5. CWC27 spliceosome-associated protein homolog (CWC27-ADAMTS6); 6. fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B); 7. forkhead box O1 (FOXO1); 8. G protein-coupled receptor 15 (GPR15); 9. heparan sulfate (glucosamine)

Personality is a large part of being human, as each person has a unique set of characteristics and traits. One person can be kind and patient and another can be rude and ill tempered. This variability is both what makes the study of personality fascinating and incredibly difficult. Although there are a myriad of different personality traits that can be used to describe a person, psychologists have narrowed it down to five overarching ideas. These are commonly referred to as the “Big Five” personality traits and they consist of, neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness. In particular, this study will focus on neuroticism, the trait that is characterized by high emotionality and instability, anxiety, and irritability (Soto, John, Gosling, & Potter 2011). Of the five, neuroticism is the only one with a negative connotation, which separates it from the others. Nonetheless, despite its poor reputation, neuroticism is an incredibly important trait to study as it is often linked with anxiety and depression (Soto et al., 2011). For example, one study found that participants who were clinically depressed and those who were not but scored highly on the neuroticism scale both had significantly greater negative self-perceptions (Thomson, 2016). Although currently there is only a correlation between these mental disorders and neuroticism, further experimentation could lead to more conclusive result. Recently, mental health has

Sociogenomics is a relatively new research area that isn 't very well understood. Scholarly articles (e.g., Roberts & Jackson, 2008) describe it as a field that explores the following: the identification of genes that influence social behavior, the understanding of the influence of these genes on underlying neural and endocrine mechanisms, and understanding the effects of the environment, particularly the social environment, on gene action.