Scanning the genome with 1772 microsatellite markers in search of a bipolar disorder susceptibility gene.

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1% of the population and there is evidence that genetic factors play an important role in the production of symptoms. We undertook a genetic linkage study for the discovery of a major locus conferring susceptibility for bipolar illness in an Old Order Amish pedigree. Our study took advantage of publicly available phenotypic and genotypic information, the latter as a byproduct of the human genome project effort. We present a genomic scan using 1772 polymorphic genetic markers and we suggest candidate genetic regions for harboring a bipolar disorder susceptibility gene.