Genes, environment, and dyslexia the 2005 Norman Geschwind memorial lecture |
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Authors: | Richard K Olson PhD |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, UCB 345, 80309 Boulder, CO, USA;(2) Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center, USA |
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Abstract: | This article presents an overview of some methods and results from our continuing studies of genetic and environmental influences
on dyslexia, and on individual differences across the normal range that have been conducted over the past 25 years in the
Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center (CLDRC) and in related projects. CLDRC investigators compare the similarities
of identical twin pairs who share all their genes and fraternal twins who share half their segregating genes to assess the
balance of genetic, shared family environment, and nonshared environment influences on dyslexia and on individual differences
across the normal range. We have learned that among the children we have studied in Colorado, group deficits in reading (dyslexia)
and individual differences in reading across the normal range are primarily due to genetic influences, and these genetic influences
are often shared with some of the same genetic influences on deficits and individual differences in language and ADHD. We
have also learned from our molecular-genetic linkage studies that there are regions on several chromosomes likely to contain
genes that influence dyslexia. Several specific genes within these regions have been tentatively identified through molecular-genetic
association analyses, but much more research is needed to understand the pathways among specific genes, regions of noncoding
DNA that regulate the activity of those genes, the brain, and dyslexia. I conclude with a discussion of our research on individual
differences in early reading development, on the role of early learning constraints in dyslexia, and on how genetic influences
are expressed through their interaction and correlation with the environment. |
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Keywords: | Behavioral genetics development dyslexia environment genes reading disability twins |
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