Open AccessA genome‐wide association study for reading and language abilities in two population cohorts
Author(s) -
Luciano M.,
Evans D. M.,
Hansell N. K.,
Medland S. E.,
Montgomery G. W.,
Martin N. G.,
Wright M. J.,
Bates T. C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
genes, brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1601-183X
pISSN - 1601-1848
DOI - 10.1111/gbb.12053
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , genetics , genome wide association study , spelling , reading (process) , genetic association , population , association (psychology) , longitudinal study , biology , psychology , gene , developmental psychology , demography , medicine , genotype , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , sociology , psychotherapist
Candidate genes have been identified for both reading and language, but most of the heritable variance in these traits remains unexplained. Here, we report a genome‐wide association meta‐analysis of two large cohorts: population samples of Australian twins and siblings aged 12–25 years ( n = 1177 from 538 families), and a younger cohort of children of the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and their Children (aged 8 and 9 years; maximum n = 5472). Suggestive association was indicated for reading measures and non‐word repetition ( NWR ), with the greatest support found for single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ) in the pseudogene, ABCC13 ( P = 7.34 × 10 −8 ), and the gene, DAZAP1 ( P = 1.32 × 10 −6 ). Gene‐based analyses showed significant association ( P < 2.8 × 10 −6 ) for reading and spelling with genes CD2L1 , CDC2L2 and RCAN3 in two loci on chromosome 1. Some support was found for the same SNPs having effects on both reading skill and NWR , which is compatible with behavior genetic evidence for influences of reading acquisition on phonological‐task performance. The results implicate novel candidates for study in additional cohorts for reading and language abilities.