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The genetic basis for psychiatric illness in man *
Author(s) -
Tandon Kopal,
McGuffin Peter
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02095.x
Subject(s) - heritability , twin study , identification (biology) , behavioural genetics , psychiatric genetics , psychology , linkage (software) , big five personality traits , genetic association , personality , mental illness , psychiatry , genetics , gene , biology , developmental psychology , single nucleotide polymorphism , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , social psychology , mental health , genotype , ecology
Following the influential genetic studies of Heston and Kety, there has been growing acceptance of the role of genes in determining behaviour. It is now recognized that most types of behaviour, from normal variations in traits such as personality to complex psychiatric disorders, are influenced not only by environmental factors but also by multiple genes. While twin and adoption studies have been vital in demonstrating the heritability of behaviour, the focus is now on the identification of the genes involved using the molecular genetic strategies linkage analysis and allelic association. This article will discuss techniques that have been used in psychiatric genetics, and how they have advanced our understanding of complex behaviour.