Article Abstract:
Two Lefty (ital) homologues, LEFTY A (ital) and LEFTY B (ital), have been characterized. They are four exons each, spliced at the same positions and about 50 kb apart on chromosome 1q42. It had been hypothesized that Lefty (ital) mutations are associated with human left-right (LR)-axis malformations. The transforming growth factor (TGF)--beta family of cell-signaling molecules has been implicated in mammalian LR axis development. Two family members, Lefty1 (ital) and Lefty 2 (ital) are expressed only on the left side of the mouse embryo by 8.0 days post coitum.
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Article Abstract:
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs), which are enzymes that can catabolize neurotransmitters, are attractive candidates in study of neurological diseases and psychiatric and behavioral traits. There are two forms, MAO A and MAO B, identified on the basis of biochemical properties and cloning, after that, of relevant genes. The most interesting finding so far may be the one that implicates MAO A in control of aggressive behavior in humans. In a Dutch family the clearest genetic evidence yet seen was found for the theory that MAOs regulate human behavior.
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Article Abstract:
Recent genetic studies of substance abuse and alcoholism are reviewed with emphasis on alcoholism and related phenotypes. Such studies have been carried out in large numbers in the year just past, the result of high repeated-heritability estimates of the addictive disorders and related phenotypes and of realization that methods of mapping, detecting and characterizing oligogenic susceptibility genes are improving rapidly.
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