PSYC3338 Chapter Notes - Chapter NA: Chromatin
Document Summary
Individuals risk often comes from combo of common + rare variants (some inherited some spontaneous) 1 in 10 cases can be traced to mutations affecting a single gene (monogenic varieties) but more often than not its root is unknown. Estimated that ~1000 genes associated with asd. De novo mutations (single-nucleotide variants) occur spontaneously in sperm or egg cell and are not inherited from either parent. Alterations in the chromosomes that involve deletion or duplication of whole chunks of. 80% of spontaneous point mutations occur within the sperm cells + number of mutations increases with father"s age. Most genes fall into 3 main categories: Transcription - process by which dna is translated into proteins. Remodeling chromatin (densely packed dna and proteins whose structure determines the structure of dna accessible for transcription) Shares genetic origins with other conditions (esp. developmental psychiatric disorders) High-risk mutation might potentially lead to a range of disabilities but autism in families whose genetic background predisposes them.
