PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Different gene expression in male and female brains may help explain sex differences in brain disorder

2013-11-22
(Press-News.org) Contact information: David Weston
d.weston@ucl.ac.uk
44-020-310-83844
University College London
Different gene expression in male and female brains may help explain sex differences in brain disorder UCL scientists have shown that there are widespread differences in how genes, the basic building blocks of the human body, are expressed in men and women's brains.

Based on post-mortem adult human brain and spinal cord samples from over 100 individuals, scientists at the UCL Institute of Neurology were able to study the expression of every gene in 12 brain regions. The results are published today in Nature Communications.

They found that the way that the genes are expressed in the brains of men and women were different in all major brain regions and these differences involved 2.5% of all the genes expressed in the brain.

Among the many results, the researchers specifically looked at the gene NRXN3, which has been implicated in autism. The gene is transcribed into two major forms and the study results show that although one form is expressed similarly in both men and women, the other is produced at lower levels in women in the area of the brain called the thalamus. This observation could be important in understanding the higher incidence of autism in males.

Overall, the study suggests that there is a sex-bias in the way that genes are expressed and regulated, leading to different functionality and differences in susceptibility to brain diseases observed by neurologists and psychiatrists.

Dr. Mina Ryten, UCL Institute of Neurology and senior author of the paper, said: "There is strong evidence to show that men and women differ in terms of their susceptibility to neurological diseases, but up until now the basis of that difference has been unclear.

"Our study provides the most complete information so far on how the sexes differ in terms of how their genes are expressed in the brain. We have released our data so that others can assess how any gene they are interested in is expressed differently between men and women."

### Notes for Editors

1. Widespread sex differences in gene expression and splicing in the adult human brain is scheduled for publication in Nature Communications' on 22 November. Copies of the paper are available from the UCL Media Relations Office, and it will be available online once the embargo lifts at http://www.nature.com/naturecommunications.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

New dinosaur discovered in Utah

2013-11-22
New dinosaur discovered in Utah Top predator is first of its kind to be found in North America Researchers at The Field Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS), and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have discovered a new, giant predatory dinosaur ...

Expert assessment: Sea-level rise could exceed 1 meter in this century

2013-11-22
Expert assessment: Sea-level rise could exceed 1 meter in this century In contrast, for a scenario with strong emissions reductions, experts expect a sea-level rise of 40-60 centimeters by 2100 and 60-100 centimeters by 2300. The ...

Antidepressant medication does not increase the risk of autism

2013-11-22
Antidepressant medication does not increase the risk of autism New research cannot establish a close connection between the use of antidepressant medication - the so-called SSRIs - during the course of pregnancy and the risk of having a child with autism: "More ...

IceCube provides proof of neutrinos from the cosmos -- start of the neutrino astronomy era

2013-11-22
IceCube provides proof of neutrinos from the cosmos -- start of the neutrino astronomy era IceCube particle detector at the South Pole discovers 28 high-energy neutrinos/ Publication in SCIENCE The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South ...

Research funding has become prone to bubble formation

2013-11-22
Research funding has become prone to bubble formation "In finance, the first condition for a bubble occurs when too much liquidity is concentrated on too few assets. The second is the presence of speculators. In science, similarly, if too much research ...

Sea level rise forecasts helped by insights into glacier melting

2013-11-22
Sea level rise forecasts helped by insights into glacier melting Predictions of sea level rise could become more accurate, thanks to new insight into how glacier movement is affected by melting ice in summer Predictions of sea level rise could become more ...

Continued increases in ADHD diagnoses and treatment with medication among US children

2013-11-22
Continued increases in ADHD diagnoses and treatment with medication among US children New study led by the CDC reports that half of US children diagnosed with ADHD received that diagnosis by age 6 Washington D.C., November 22, 2013 – A new study published in the Journal ...

Research team discovers 'immune gene' in Neanderthals

2013-11-22
Research team discovers 'immune gene' in Neanderthals Early humans had a selection advantage, as scientists working under the direction of the University of Bonn have learned A research group at Bonn University and international collaborators discovered ...

LSUHSC research finds combo of plant nutrients kills breast cancer cells

2013-11-22
LSUHSC research finds combo of plant nutrients kills breast cancer cells New Orleans, LA – A study led by Madhwa Raj, PhD, Research Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and its Stanley S. Scott Cancer ...

Scientists have been able to grow artificial skin using stem cells from the umbilical cord

2013-11-22
Scientists have been able to grow artificial skin using stem cells from the umbilical cord 1 of the problems major burn victims have is that, using the current protocols for artificial skin, they need to wait various weeks in order for it to be grown, using ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New research boosts future whooping cough vaccines

Mechanistic understanding could enable better fast-charging batteries

No bones about it: new details about skeletal cell aging revealed

UNM scientists discover how nanoparticles of toxic metal used in MRI scans infiltrate human tissue

UMaine research examines best methods for growing Atlantic sea scallops

Medical cannabis could speed recovery, especially at community recovery homes

Study assesses U.S. image amid weakening of democracy

Two scientific researchers to receive 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health

Researchers improve chemical reaction that underpins products from foods to fuels

Texas Tech to develop semiconductor power devices through $6 million grant

Novel genomic screening tool enables precision reverse-engineering of genetic programming in cells

Hot Schrödinger cat states created

How cells repair their power plants

Oxygen is running low in inland waters—and humans are to blame

ACP’s Best Practice Advice addresses use of cannabis, cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain

Beyond photorespiration: A systematic approach to unlocking enhanced plant productivity

How a small number of mutations can fuel outbreaks of western equine encephalitis virus

Exposure to wildfire smoke linked with worsening mental health conditions

Research uncovers hidden spread of one of the most common hospital-associated infections

Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?

Fine particulate matter from 2020 California wildfires and mental health–related emergency department visits

Gender inequity in institutional leadership roles in US academic medical centers

Pancreatic cells ‘remember’ epigenetic precancerous marks without genetic sequence mutations

Rare combination of ovarian tumors found in one patient

AI-driven clinical recommendations may aid physician decision making to improve quality of care

Artificial intelligence has potential to aid physician decisions during virtual urgent care

ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine present breaking scientific news at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2025

New study reveals polymers with flawed fillers boost heat transfer in plastics

Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people

Discovery of bacteria's defence against viruses becomes a piece of the puzzle against resistance

[Press-News.org] Different gene expression in male and female brains may help explain sex differences in brain disorder