INVESTIGATION OF NEUREGULIN-1 GEN rs6994992 POLYMORPHISM IN GIFTED STUDENTS

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate whether neuregulin-1 gene (NRG1) rs6994992 polymorphism has any role in gifted students in Turkish population. Methods: During the 2017-2018 academic year, 97 gifted students (experiment group) and 99 students with normal development (control group) attending 5th grade of different public schools participated in the research. Genomic DNA was extracted from the oral epithelial cells. Genotyping of the molecular variant was performed by Polymerase Chain ReactionAgarose gel electrophoresis-DNA sequencing techniques. Results: Genotype difference in gifted students was estimated as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval using binary logistic regression models. While the frequencies of CC (wild type), CT (heterozygous), TT (polymorphic type) genotypes were 33.0, 53.6 and 13.4%for the experimental group, respectively, they were observed as 33.0, 60.0 and 7.0% in the control group. In the Turkish population, no association could be detected for both genotype and allele distribution for NRG1 rs6994992 C/T polymorphism between gifted and control group (OR: 0.538, CI: 0.190-1.525, p = 0.244). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, there was no relationship between NRG1 rs6994992 polymorphism and gifted students in the Turkish population.