Potential gene targets for schizophrenia detection through molecular techniques: A review

Schizophrenia is a chronic idiopathic neuropsychiatric illness. The exact cause of this disease is unknown but scientists believed that the environmental, genetic and societal factors are cumulatively responsible for Schizophrenia. Due to their polygenic architecture, there are several gene and their interaction is responsible for the development and progression of Schizophrenia such as α-7 nicotinic receptor gene, Tryptophan Hydroxylase (TPH) and D2 Dopamine Receptor Gene (DRD2) etc. The new gene targets have still been investigated through linkage statistics and Logarithmic Odd Ratios (LOD). The Molecular Techniques such as Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism are taking advantage over conventional methods in predicting the Schizophrenia disease. Moreover, nucleotide and protein Microarray, whole genome sequencing, DNA barcoding, Next generation sequencing are also trying to unfold the causes of Schizophrenia. The molecular techniques will open the door of preventative psychiatry.