Burrows et al & Ayah et al.

This weeks papers were particularly interesting to me as I have family affected with this disorder and have always been intrigued by the genes that give rise to the particular symptoms associated with Schizophrenia. I started learning about gene by environment interactions in my behavioral genetics class and therefore was excited to see that was the major focus of the paper by Burrows et al. I thought about their approach to testing this and found the idea of environmental enrichment to be quite fitting as the incidence of schizophrenia in human populations is different across the globe (such as a higher incidence rate in North America, Canada and Australia). These differences in environment (climate, levels of poverty and healthcare access and childhood development) can lead to alterations in gene transcriptions leaving people with more susceptible biology prone to developing disorders such as schizophrenia. The absence of mGlu5 and introduction of changes in the environment brought on interesting behavioral and morphological changes and Burrows et al. likened it to pharmacological intervention. This was a big statement to make in terms of schizophrenia research and may hold some validity and transferability to humans as well.

With the development of tools such as genetic testing (23 & me, etc.) it could be possible to screen children at a young age for more predisposed genes and regulate their developing environment and increasing activities such as healthy eating and exercise, as well as increasing access to healthcare, to diminish the possibility of the onset of this disease. This is where Y Ayhan et al. come into play as their study shows that some specific genes associated with schizophrenia play important roles during different critical periods of development by looking at behavioral and morphological changes as a result of different onset periods of a mutant hDISC1 gene. It goes to show how intricate the development of an organism is given that gene expression not only has to occur, but has to occur within a specific time period of development. Having used genetic screening, the disrupted DISC1 gene was found in a Scottish family which brings us back full circle to the idea that people can be screened early to identify genes and and employ methods such as: environmental enrichment and, once fully clinically diagnosed, pharmacological treatment to help people prone or already diagnosed with this disorder or other mood disorders.

I am particularly driven by the work done by Burrows et al. as my great aunt grew up in an impoverished area of Sri Lanka and the time and place during which she grew up may not have been as fortunate with a high standard of living and the lack of a proper upbringing along with the lack of early intervention has lead her to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Since then however, pharmacological treatment has proven to be very helpful for her. This idea can also be carried forward into the homeless population and why homeless people are generally seen to have mood disorders or similar behaviors. As their standard of living starts to decline, their body needs to rapidly adapt to the changes in their diet and habits along with the harsh conditions homeless people endure. All the work done by Burrows et al. and Y Ahyan et al. are proving to move the research in the right direction.