The deletion of a single gene and the crippling effects this has on mitochondria may be responsible for a 40-fold increased risk of developing a devastating mental illness, a new study finds.
For decades, researchers have theorized that several genetic underpinnings play a critical role in the development of schizophrenia. But an investigation led by scientists at Emory University and Rutgers published in Science Advances reveals that a missing gene 3q29 could cause the psychiatric disorder due to the significant adverse impact its absence has on mitochondrial function.
