Patent ID: 7572580
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: A01K,A61K,C07K

Abstract:
1. A method of diagnosing schizophrenia comprising: a) providing a nucleic acid from a human subject suspected of having schizophrenia; wherein said nucleic acid comprises an α7 allele; b) detecting at least one polymorphism within a core promoter region of said α7 allele, wherein said core promoter region corresponds to SEQ ID NO:125 and wherein said polymorphism comprises a single variant selected from the group consisting of −86C/T; −92G/A, −143 G/A, −178 −G; −180 G/C; −191 G/A; −194 G/C; and −241 A/G, or a dual variant selected from the group consisting of −46/−178; −146/−190; −46/−191; −86/−241; and −178/−191 of SEQ ID NO:125 in relation to a start codon of said α7 allele beginning at residue 270; c) interviewing said subject by a physician, wherein said subject presents at least one symptom of schizophrenia; and d) providing a diagnosis of schizophrenia to said subject based on the presence of said at least one polymorphism and said at least one symptom, wherein said diagnosis differentiates schizophrenia from other forms of mental illness.