Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Burnham K

Publications

• Mini Review
  Discordant Symptoms in Monozygotic Twins with Huntington's Disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia and other Neurodegenerative and Mendelian Disorders
  Author(s): Burnham KBurnham K
  
  This is a review of nature (genetics) vs. nurture (environment in several genetically based conditions of the brain and nervous system. In the medical literature on twins similar symptoms and progression of the diseases are described as concordant. Symptoms that differ among identical twins are described as discordant. If a genetic condition like Huntington's disease is 100 percent influenced by genetics, then one would expect all Huntington's symptoms to be concordant. If some symptoms are discordant then they are attributed to the environment. Ways to describe these environmental factors include: non-genetic factors, epigenetics, nurture, stochastic (patterns that can't be predicted), pre and post-natal environment, lifestyle, and nutrition. These environmental factors are slightly different or hugely different even for identical twins. The environmental factors, especia.. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/1747-0862.1000327

  Abstract PDF