New mouse model replicates an underlying cause of intellectual disability

[ScienceRocks]

New mouse model replicates an underlying cause of intellectual disability
September 29, 2017

Credit: martha sexton/public domain

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed the first mice that lack the Upf3b gene, providing a new model for studying its underlying role in intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. The study published September 26 in Molecular Psychiatry.


In humans, mutations in the UPF3B gene cause intellectual disability and are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. This gene plays a role in nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD), a supervisory system cells use as "volume control" on many genes.

New mouse model replicates an underlying cause of intellectual disability

Imagine how wonderful it would be to use gene slicing to fix the problem in Autisic children or Schizophrenia? Talk about improving ones life. We understand such things with science and science will one day be able to fix it.