| Category | CBIO | L10 | How does gene expression compare between depression and |
| schizophrenia in the h |
| Abstract | Why I am interested in this topic: the potential correlation between |
| depression and schizophrenia is not a widely studied field, and I hope |
| to develop on the preliminary findings proposed by this particular study |
| and dataset. |
| |
| The fact that these brains are post-mortem means that no new |
| environmental implications could be added during the process of study, |
| making the results more indicative of a promising discovery. |
| |
| To obtain my data, I collected a sample of genes and expression rates |
| from the NCBI GEO database. Then I isolated the genes of interest |
| pertaining to schizophrenia, depression, and a control group. I ran |
| basic data analysis on 20,000 samples from 50 brains (t tests, average, |
| standard deviation, etc.) to help organize the data according to |
| relevance. Then, using the STRING database and further GEO2R |
| analysis, I narrowed down 250 significant genes of interest that were |
| prevalent in both schizophrenic patients and depressed patients but not |
| the control group. The top 3 most relevant genes were then identified |
| and their function was noted. |
| |
| Accordingly, a genetic correlation between these two anxiety disorders |
| has been established based on the data from 50 brains. It is important |
| to note that this experiment took into account purely genetic |
| correlations, and specific environmental factors were not thoroughly |
| considered, although all the brains were taken from a European |
| caucasian descent of people. Such environmental factors could have a |
| factor in gene expression through the inhibition of the gene or the |
| absence of it altogether. |
| |
| Bibliography | http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/shared-genes-link-depression- |
| schizophrenia-and-three-other-mental-illnesses- |
| 201303015944https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2013/new- |
| data-reveal-extent-of-genetic-overlap-between-major-mental- |
| disorders.shtml |