Navigation Links
Did the gene for ADHD help our nomadic ancestors?
Date:6/16/2008

An ADHD-associated version of the human gene DRD4 is linked to better health among nomadic tribesmen, but may cause malnourishment in their settled cousins, according to new research by a team directed by an anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).

A study by UWM assistant professor Ben Campbell and colleagues from Northwestern University, Boston University and UNLV shows that a particular version of the gene DRD4, appears to have completely different effects, depending on one's environment.

The DRD4 gene codes for a receptor for dopamine, one of the chemical messengers used in the brain. Previous research has linked the gene with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-type behavior in young men risk-taking, reward-seeking and impulsivity, says Campbell.

But people can have different versions of the gene. One variant, called the 7R allele, is associated with novelty-seeking in addition to ADHD.

The researchers conducted the study among the Ariaal population in northern Kenya some of whom still live as nomads, while others have recently settled. The research team analyzed the body mass index (BMI) and height of the two groups, nomadic and non-nomadic Ariaal men, who had the variant gene.

They found that those with the 7R allele in the nomadic population were better nourished than their non-nomadic brethren who carried 7R allele.

The results underscore, says Campbell, the complexity of genotype on the expression of behavior. Different environments can determine whether behaviors associated with the gene, such as ADHD, are more or less effective.

"We may have difficulty understanding ADHD in part because we are considering the behaviors associated with it in only one environment the present one," he says. "The thinking used to be one gene, one outcome. Now we know that one gene with different environments yields different outcomes."

Campbell says the results have
'/>"/>

Contact: Ben Campbell
campbelb@uwm.edu
414-229-6250
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Source:Eurekalert

3

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... Wis. Studying complex systems like ecosystems can get ... with other big unknowns like climate change. , ... in the Proceedings of the National Academy of ... elsewhere validate a fundamental assumption at the very heart ... variables. , To model how climate changes may impact ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... expressed concern in the ongoing public health debate is ... that are nutrient dense. A new study, "Vegetable ... Nutrients Per Penny," published in the journal PLOS ... best nutritional values in the produce aisle, providing one ... other raw vegetables and delivering one of the most ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... Frontiers, one of the world,s largest and fastest growing ... journal, Frontiers in Physics . , A broad ... will provide an open-science and interactive web platform ... rigorously peer-reviewed articles. , Frontiers, real-time and interactive ... range of article types. With an average of three ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Understanding the past and predicting the future by looking across space and time 2New research shows that potatoes provide one of the best nutritional values per penny 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 3
... shows that male suitors of a female cannibalistic spider ... adequate courtship lasting a minimum of 100 minutes. ... by and mate successfully on the courtship efforts of ... University of Toronto Scarborough have published a research paper ...
... used by physicians to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ... Standards and Technology (NIST)working at the Hollings Marine Laboratory ... of a pathogen shown to cause coral bleaching, a ... bleaching is the whitening of living coral due to ...
... The American Dietetic Association welcomes a report issued ... federal school meal programs to adopt standards that increase ... served to schoolchildren. "The IOM,s positive and progressive ... the American Dietetic Association has been making for a ...
Cached Biology News:Male Australian redback spiders employ courtship strategies to preserve their life 2The white stuff: Marine lab team seeks to understand coral bleaching 2American Dietetic Association supports IOM recommendations on school meal programs 2American Dietetic Association supports IOM recommendations on school meal programs 3
(Date:5/24/2013)... Senomyx , Inc. (NASDAQ: ... to discover, develop, and commercialize novel flavor ingredients, announced ... the Company,s Vice President, Biology and Gwen ... Communications, will present an overview of Senomyx,s technology and ... Time (7:25 a.m. Pacific Time) during the Citi 2013 ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... Many factors impact tissues targeting such as protein ... the blood-tissue barrier. Even when tissue disposition is achieved, ... tissue rather than the total tissue concentration. , A ... guide lead optimization, predict in vivo activity in animal ... impact the likely human clinical dose. , In this ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... Vestiage, Inc. (stock symbol "VEST") a publicly ... and development, sales and marketing of premium branded ... that it is awarding exclusive Vestiage territories in ... Skin Illuminating Facial Care. Qualified applicants can request ... email to info(at)vestiageinc(dot)com and putting RELUMA in the ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... CAMBRIDGE, England , May 24, 2013 ... von Mundipharma angefertigt – Bei der ... Version , 91 % der Teilnehmer einer ... obwohl nur 20 % laut GINA [*] -Definition [1] ... zeigt, dass Menschen mit Asthma generell einer von vier ...
Breaking Biology Technology:SENOMYX TO WEBCAST CORPORATE PRESENTATION AT THE CITI 2013 GLOBAL CONSUMER CONFERENCE 2DMPK for Targeted Tissue Delivery: Solutions for the Most Challenging Part of Outsourcing, New Life Science Webinar Hosted by Xtalks 2Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 2Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 3Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 4Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 5Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 2Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 3Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 4Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 5Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 6Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 7
... , , NAVIGATE THIS ARTICLE: ... > <A , href="#3">RNA , ... Transfer > <A , ... href="#6">Stripping , & Reprobing , , ...
... Gene arrays are solid supports upon which a , ... placed at , defined locations, ... array analysis, a nucleic acid-containing sample is labeled , ... on the array. (In the literature, the term "target" can ...
... One of the RNA silencing ... for the synthesis of siRNA, , the ... href="http://www.ambion.com/catalog/CatNum.php?16000"> siRNA , ... RNAs of several different sequences need to be made, it can ...
Cached Biology Technology:Northern Analysis: The Basics 2Northern Analysis: The Basics 3Northern Analysis: The Basics 4Northern Analysis: The Basics 5Northern Analysis: The Basics 6Northern Analysis: The Basics 7Northern Analysis: The Basics 8Northern Analysis: The Basics 9Northern Analysis: The Basics 10Northern Analysis: The Basics 11Northern Analysis: The Basics 12Northern Analysis: The Basics 13Northern Analysis: The Basics 14Northern Analysis: The Basics 15Northern Analysis: The Basics 16Northern Analysis: The Basics 17Northern Analysis: The Basics 18Northern Analysis: The Basics 19Array Analysis: The Basics 2Array Analysis: The Basics 3Array Analysis: The Basics 4Array Analysis: The Basics 5Your Data: Silencing of a Pro-apoptotic Transcription Factor Using Synthetic siRNA 2Your Data: Silencing of a Pro-apoptotic Transcription Factor Using Synthetic siRNA 3
... of the members of the GPCR family ... splicing--which has important implications for drug research. ... classical expression profiling and at the same ... of the gene that are expressed in ...
... ExonHit can design custom microarrays to detect ... list. Proprietary algorithms are used to ... from high quality, spliced cDNAs aligned to ... in a custom SpliceArray is profiled with ...
... Alternative Splicing plays an important role in ... apoptosis and cell death. Splice variants have ... and inhibition of defined apoptotic pathways. With ... can perform a classical expression profiling and ...
... binding specificity and signaling of the members ... be modified by alternative splicing--which has important ... you can perform a classical expression profiling ... different alternatively spliced forms of the gene ...
Biology Products: