Schizophrenia Genetics Revealed

Researchers identify new mutations in schizophrenia patients without a family history of the disease.

Written byJef Akst

| 1 min read

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FLICKR, MARCO CASTELLANI

At least half of schizophrenia patients who have no family history of the disorder harbor de novo mutations, according to research published online on Sunday (August 7) in Nature Genetics, suggesting genetics may play a role even when the disease is not inherited. Specifically, researchers sequenced the exomes, or protein-coding DNA, of 53 patients with seemingly non-inherited cases of schizophrenia—meaning they had no immediate family members nor aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or grandparents who had the disease—as well as 22 unaffected individuals and the parents of these subjects. In 27 of the schizophrenia patients, they identified 40 new mutations in 40 different genes, including one in DGCR2, a gene located in a region of chromosome 22 known to be associated with schizophrenia.

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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