Microdeletions and molecular genetics

Abstract

Microdeletions are often characterised by a complex clinical and behavioural phenotype resulting from the imbalance of normal dosage of genes located in that particular chromosomal segment. In this review we include the present state of art and a delineation of the future approach to study the candidate genes in the microdeletion syndromes resulting from unequal homologous recombination at meiosis between duplicons: Velocardiofacial syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, Williams syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome and distal 8p deletion.