Summary
ScienceDaily.com reported today that in the April 19, 2007 Issue of Neuron researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto report the discovery of the genetic malfunction that causes a form of mental retardation called Noonan Syndrome (NS).
NS is a relatively common genetic disorder, occurring in one of every 2,500 live births. It is characterized by congenital heart defects, short stature, learning disabilities, and mental retardation.
The researchers speculated that “genetic perturbations such as those seen in NS, or perhaps even in more commonly studied disorders such as Rett Syndrome, might first perturb cell genesis, and then this might in turn alter many later aspects of neural development, ultimately resulting in impaired circuitry and cognitive dysfunction.”
Story Link
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018151037.htm