Patent ID: 8046198

Claim:
A method of estimating the genetic susceptibility of an individual to have or to develop a developmental disorder comprising: (a) collecting a biological sample from one or more participants; wherein a participant is either the individual or a blood relative of the individual; and wherein the biological sample contains nucleic acids and/or proteins of the participant; (b) analyzing the nucleic acids and/or proteins from the biological sample; wherein said analyzing results in a partial or full genotype for the alleles of the genes involved in folate, pyridoxine, and/or cobalamin metabolism; and wherein said partial or full genotype forms a dataset or datasets of genetic explanatory variables for the one or more participants; (c) adding the dataset or datasets of genetic explanatory variables obtained from step (b) to a genetic reference dataset therein forming a combined genetic dataset; (d) formulating a model comprising the genetic explanatory variables obtained from the one or more participants; and (e) analyzing the combined genetic dataset; wherein a predicted probability for the individual of having or developing a developmental disorder is determined; and wherein the genetic susceptibility of an individual to have or to develop a developmental disorder is estimated.