Skip to Content

The Genes Behind Down Syndrome

Scientists have pinpointed crucial genes within the duplicated chromosome that trigger the disorder.
July 19, 2010

People with Down syndrome carry an extra copy of chromosome 21. But it has been unclear which genes within this dense package of DNA are responsible for the disorder, which includes mental retardation, early onset Alzheimer’s disease and other health problems. In a paper published today in Nature Neuroscience, researchers identified two crucial genes, called Olig1 and Olig2, involved in Down syndrome. Reducing the activity of these genes in mice engineered to mimic the disorder helps correct abnormal brain activity in these animals, a problem that is also present in people with the disorder.

“We hope the findings will lead to better strategies for early intervention, even during the pregnancy, to reduce neurological consequences of Down syndrome,” said Zygmunt Galdzicki, associate professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, in a statement from the university. “These findings show the need to do more human studies and also suggest that Olig1 and Olig2 inhibitors may have a potential therapeutic role for Down syndrome individuals.”

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build

“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”

ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it

The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.

Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives

The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.

Learning to code isn’t enough

Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.