Molecular genetics in neurology

ABSTRACT

Genetically determined diseases with neurological manifestations constitute a big public health problem in many communities including Saudi Arabia. As a result of advances in molecular genetics, the bases of several neurological diseases have now been deciphered. A whole series of genes of neurologic interest have been cloned and sequenced. The analysis of human DNA using recombinant technology is fast becoming an integral part of the diagnosis of number of neurological disorders. It is expected that new methods of mapping the human genome will provide us with a valuable approach in elucidating molecular pathology of these conditions and preventing them. This review presents recent advances in molecular neurogenetics and molecular techniques used for gene analysis as a prelude to possible gene therapy