Schizophrenia is now more linked to individual gene mutations in the individuals

Studies done by Broad Institute and other organizations have revealed places of mutation in human genome which sheds light on the occurrence of schizophrenia. Prior studies compared gene sequences from 2500 affected and 2500 non affected individuals. Possibilities of new mutations arising from protein coded genes were being looked for. Results have shown that schizophrenia is usually a result of polygenicity meaning that it arises from the combined affect of different genes. The current study took this up further and looked at changes in single nucleotides. The changes were noted on the basis of substitutions, insertions or even deletion of certain characters in the genetic codes. Shaun Percell says, "Despite the considerable sample sizes, no individual gene could be unambiguously implicated in either study. Taken as a group, however, genes involved in neural function and development showed greater rates of disruptive mutations in patients. That finding is sobering but also revealing: it suggests that many genes underlie risk for schizophrenia and so any two patients are unlikely to share the same profile of risk genes."