Posted by SLS on September 27, 2006, at 18:07:50
In reply to Re: genetics of schizophrenia » SLS, posted by alexandra_k on September 27, 2006, at 8:34:49
Hi Alexandra.
> Actually... Thanks for that :-) It shows that no matter how abstractly we define combinations of allels... Genetic inheritence isn't enough to determine whether one has schizophrenia or not. Environment must play a role.
Not necessarily. There are still epigenetic processes that occur within the organism that are not programmed by the genes, but affect the expression of genes. In other words, a pair of identical twins do not have to be identical phenotypes due to the epigenetic differences in gene activity. The expression of schizophrenia can therefore be 100% biological, and not at all dependent on the environment. Instead it is dependant upon specific epigenetic events during development that lead to the turning on or turning off of specific genes.
> A fair few theorists have argued that schizophrenia isn't a natural kind.
I have a feeling that we need to better define what we mean by schizophrenia. Once we do, I think we will see that there is a phenotype that does represent a natural kind, and that one of its interesting generalizations will be the presence of specific genes of vulnerability; the expression of which will depend upon epigenetic events, including psychosocial stress.
> Instead they think that there are importantly different types of schizophrenia. If that is right... Then if we divide 'schizophrenia' up into the relevent types then we might have better luck with figuring out what is going on...
Yes.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:689461
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/689681.html