Search for Susceptibility Loci on Selected Chromosomes in Patients with Mental Disorders from the Faroe Islands: Leitan eftir ílegumøguleikum á útvaldum kromosomum hjá føroyskum sjúklingum við sinnisligum sjúkum

Abstract

Around the world, scientists are trying to identify chromosomal regions that possibly contain genes involved in mental disorders. To some extent, genetically isolatsæred populations are used for such studies, based on the assumption that locus heterogeneity is lower in isolated populations. A reduction in genetic and environmental heterogeneity may increase the likelihood of detecting a disease-bearing locus. For the search of susceptibility genes, we have chosen the Faroe Islands, which, both historically and geographically, seems ideal for such genetic studies. A full genome screening was performed, searching for areas that could be of interest in relation to bipolar illness, schizophrenia, and panic disorder. From the ongoing screening, our results point to some areas of the genome that are of interest for further studies, Table 1. This study has been accepted on legal and ethical terms. However, if an illness-related gene locus is identified, patenting versus publishing issues will need to be resolved.