THE DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER GENE AND PARKINSONS-DISEASE IN A CHINESE POPULATION

We studied a variable number tandem repeat polymorphism within the dop amine transporter gene (DAT) for an association with Parkinson's disea se in a Chinese population. Five alleles were detected, consisting of 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 copies of the 40 base pair repeat sequence. The 10 -copy allele was most common, accounting for 90% of alleles. There wer e no significant differences between the patients and the control subj ects in the distribution frequencies of the alleles or genotypes. Ther efore, this polymorphism is not associated with Parkinson's disease in Chinese populations.