Schizophrenia
How the Loss of Dysbindin, a Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene,
Affects Sleep Patterns in Drosophila Links between genes and mental disorders have been found throughout science. One mental malady being focused on today is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is shown to have many sources or possible causes (Maier, 2008); however the primary and most studied cause is the link between schizophrenia and the dysibindin gene.
Statement of Problem The problem being studied is whether dysbindin is the cause for sleep disruption in schizophrenic patients.
Research Design
In order to conduct this research, an ANOVA will be used to. The goal is to identify the affects that the loss of dysibindin function has on sleep patterns in Drosophila melanogaster and whether these patterns are different from that of Drosophila with similar genetic background used as controls.
Four different genotypes will be used to show the difference in sleep patterns in the fruit flies. The genotypes are piggybac, dysb^rev, C155 W1118 and C155 x dysb RNAi. Piggybac is the main mutation with full dysbindin knockdown. Dysb^rev is the reverse of piggybac and one of the controls. C155 W1118 is another control with similar genetic back to that of C155 x dysb RNAi, which is not a complete knockdown of dysbindin.
Purpose
A combination of the theory that dysbindin is a schizophrenia susceptibility gene and the knowledge that many schizophrenic patients suffer from sleep disruption, Drosophila melanogaster can be tested and the results interpreted to see if loss of dysbindin function will cause sleep disruption or fragmentation.
Significance
Because schizophrenia is a dangerous mental disease that can cause harm to the affected individual as well as others who they are in contact with , it is important to find a way to cure or aid those who are affected. One clear affect of schizophrenia on the patient affected is sleep disruption. A common complaint of schizophrenic patients is sleep disruption
Affects Sleep Patterns in Drosophila Links between genes and mental disorders have been found throughout science. One mental malady being focused on today is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is shown to have many sources or possible causes (Maier, 2008); however the primary and most studied cause is the link between schizophrenia and the dysibindin gene.
Statement of Problem The problem being studied is whether dysbindin is the cause for sleep disruption in schizophrenic patients.
Research Design
In order to conduct this research, an ANOVA will be used to. The goal is to identify the affects that the loss of dysibindin function has on sleep patterns in Drosophila melanogaster and whether these patterns are different from that of Drosophila with similar genetic background used as controls.
Four different genotypes will be used to show the difference in sleep patterns in the fruit flies. The genotypes are piggybac, dysb^rev, C155 W1118 and C155 x dysb RNAi. Piggybac is the main mutation with full dysbindin knockdown. Dysb^rev is the reverse of piggybac and one of the controls. C155 W1118 is another control with similar genetic back to that of C155 x dysb RNAi, which is not a complete knockdown of dysbindin.
Purpose
A combination of the theory that dysbindin is a schizophrenia susceptibility gene and the knowledge that many schizophrenic patients suffer from sleep disruption, Drosophila melanogaster can be tested and the results interpreted to see if loss of dysbindin function will cause sleep disruption or fragmentation.
Significance
Because schizophrenia is a dangerous mental disease that can cause harm to the affected individual as well as others who they are in contact with , it is important to find a way to cure or aid those who are affected. One clear affect of schizophrenia on the patient affected is sleep disruption. A common complaint of schizophrenic patients is sleep disruption
References: Balu, D. T. & Coyle, J. T. (2012, October 10). Neuroplasticity signaling pathways linked to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews . doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.10.005 Dickman, D. K., & Davis, G. W. (2009, November 20). Supporting online material for the schizophrenia susceptibility gene dysbindin controls synaptic homestasis. Science , 326. doi: 10.1126/science.1179685 Foster, R. G. (2012, April 20). Evaluating the links between schizophrenia and sleep and circadian rhythm disruption. Springer . doi: 10.1007/s00702-012-0817-8 Shaw, P Shao, L., Shuai, Y., Wang, J., Feng, S., Lu, B., Li, Z., Zhao, Y., Wang, L. & Zhong, Y. (2011, November 15) Kendler, K. S. (2002, May 10). Genetic variation in the 6p22.3 gene DTNBP1, the human ortholog of the mouse dysbindin gene, is associated with schizophrenia. The American Society of Human Genetics . doi: 10.1086/341750 van Alphen, B