Biology as it relates to Mental Retardation

[jollysisters]

How does the science of biology relate to mental retardation.

Discuss the similarity between the two.

I appreciate all assistance

[mith]

You could study the different types of aneuploidies, of sex and autosomal chromosomes.

[ushishir]

There are a large number of genes in which mutations cause mental retardation. A search of OMIM shows 1287 genetic diseases that include mental redardation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=OMIM

It is interesting that the X chromosome seems to contain a disproportinately large number of genes that can cause mental retardation. The X chromsome contains about 3.7% of all human genes but 27% of mental retardation syndromes. This could be why men are more prone having low but also possibly high intelligence.

X-linked genes and mental functioning. David H. Skuse. Human Molecular Genetics, 2005, Vol. 14, Review Issue 1

[prometheusmax]

This article (http://www.virologyj.com/content/2/1/70) may be of general interest. It suggests reasons why HCV may evade immune detection during early infection and how viral infections like HCV may cause diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, mental health disorders like depression, and vascular diseases. The author is not original in suggesting this, as for a long time, Juvenile onset diabetes (type 1) and schizophrenia have been linked to viral infections (diabetes to coxsackie, schizophrenia to maternal influenza) but he is presenting a different mechanism of how viruses may cause damage to organs like the pancreas and prevent insulin acting (as occurs in type II diabetes). Very interesting!! Now, if viruses can cause diabetes, or schizophrenia (in genetically predisposed individuals) it opens up the possibility of vaccines to either prevent or treat these diseases. Wouldn't that be something!!?