ABSTRACT
Medical science at the end of the millenium is in the throes of a revolution made possible by spectacular advances in molecular biology and genetics, computational and analytic methods, and bioinformatics. These advances have facilitated the discovery of the hereditary basis of a growing number of diseases that were idiopathic for centuries. Such discoveries have become commonplace for disorders where a single gene is causative in a Mendelian pattern, such as Huntington’s disease. They have also opened the way for unraveling the genetic basis of a growing number of disorders characterized by complex multifactorial causation, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia. Discovery of the genes involved in the transmission of these disorders will allow their molecular basis to be elucidated and will permit the development of more effective targeted treatments. This chapter outlines the evidence for a genetic basis for BPD, considers the strategies used in seeking causative genes, summarizes the major findings, and highlights the complex challenges yet to be resolved.
