Elusive molecular linkages for anxiety genes

• A Gene for Anxiety !!! by Jim Pretzer, 5/26/97
  
  

I expect there will be fascinating and important discoveries to come in the area of molecular linkages for behavioral characteristics, including factors in various disorders. I recently came across a reference to late- breaking research, but I do not have ready access to the journal in question so have not read the article. The title suggests the article is a replication of the Lesch et al 1996 Science report. However, this new study looks like there was a failure to replicate. The citation is: Ebstein, R. P., et al. "No association between the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region polymorphism and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) temperament of harm avoidance," Molecular Psychiatry, May 1997, Vol 2, #3.

This domain of behavior genetics of psychiatric disorders is getting ready to explode with molecular linkage study findings, but the course will not prove to be a straight line I suspect. And none of the findings obviate the importance of the psychology of the individual, as Dr. Pretzer notes above and those with a genuine appreciation of the relevance of behavior genetics also understand.

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