THE GENETICS OF TOURETTE-SYNDROME

Tourette syndrome has significant genetic determinants. The mode of tr ansmission, while mildly controversial, generally is thought to be due to a single major locus inherited either as an autosomal dominant tra it with reduced penetrance, or as a trait with intermediate inheritanc e in which some heterozygotes manifest the disorder. These is evidence for a Tourette syndrome spectrum of symptoms thai; includes obsessive -compulsive disorder. Systematic genome linkage studies of Tourette sy ndrome are progressing, but tit date there are no significant linkage findings, although the search has included many neurologically relevan t candidate genes.