J Med Genet 1999;36:664-669 ( September )

A new gene (DYX3) for dyslexia is located on chromosome 2

Toril Fagerheim^a, Peter Raeymaekers^b, Finn Egil Tønnessen^c, Marit Pedersen^a, Lisbeth Tranebjærg^a, Herbert A Lubs^{a d}

^a Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital of Tromsø, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway, ^b Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Born Bunge Foundation, University of Antwerp (UIA), Belgium, ^c Center For Reading Research, Stavanger, Norway, ^d Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Miami, FL, USA

Correspondence to: Dr Fagerheim.

Revised version received 28 April 1999; Accepted for publication 5 May 1999

Developmental dyslexia is a specific reading disability affecting children and adults who otherwise possess normal intelligence, cognitive skills, and adequate schooling. Difficulties in spelling and reading may persist through adult life. Possible localisations of genes for dyslexia have been reported on chromosomes 15 (DYX1), 6p21.3-23 (DYX2), and 1p over the last 15 years. Only the localisation to 6p21.3-23 has been clearly confirmed and a genome search has not previously been carried out. We have investigated a large Norwegian family in which dyslexia is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. A genome wide search for linkage with an average 20 cM marker density was initiated in 36 of the 80 family members. The linkage analysis was performed under three different diagnostic models. Linkage analysis in the family identified a region in 2p15-p16 which cosegregated with dyslexia. Maximum lod scores of 3.54, 2.92, and 4.32 for the three different diagnostic models were obtained. These results were confirmed by a non-parametric multipoint GENEHUNTER analysis in which the most likely placement of the gene was in a 4 cM interval between markers D2S2352 and D2S1337. Localisation of a gene for dyslexia to 2p15-16, together with the confirmed linkage to 6p21.3-23, constitute strong evidence for genetic heterogeneity in dyslexia. Since no gene for dyslexia has been isolated, little is known about the molecular processes involved. The isolation and molecular characterisation of this newly reported gene on chromosome 2 (DYX3) and DYX1 will thus provide new and exciting insights into the processes involved in reading and spelling.


Keywords: developmental dyslexia; reading disability; linkage analysis; chromosome 2

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© 1999 by J Med Genet
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