The association approach and candidate
genes
The association approach
The most efficient strategy to find genes of small effect is the
association approach. Unrelated patients with schizophrenia are
compared with control subjects. Theoretically a whole genome scan
with an association sample is possible. The marker map must be very
dense. A whole genome search would require the analysis of about
3500 markers. With the rapid evolution of new powerful techniques
such a genome scan of an association sample may be practically possible
within the near future.
Candidate genes
However, so far the approach of using association studies has been
restricted to candidate genes, i.e. genes hypothesized to be involved
in the disease on the basis of knowledge of the pathogenesis. Examples
of such candidate genes are those involved in dopamine signalling,
i.e. genes for syntesising enzymes receptors, transporters and specific
growth factors.
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