Mental retardation is a common neuro-developmental disorder affecting 3 % of the population including children of all ages and socio-ethnic backgrounds. Although genetic defects have been increasingly recognized in patients affected by mental retardation, a specific diagnosis remains unavailable for most patients especially with mild to moderate mental retardation.  

General Aim

Identify key genetic components underlying memory formation and mental retardation using basic science and clinical investigation.

Surprisingly, approximately 87 % of the genes identified in patients with mental retardation have Drosophila ortholog genes. Although the neuroanatomy has markedly diverged, the molecular basis is conserved.

Indeed, genetic dissection of learning and memory has identified several genes who have later been involved in mental retardation in human, like for instance rsk2 in Coffin-Lowry syndrome, CBP in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and more recently neurotrypsin and Fragile X syndrome protein.  

For details on mental retardation: 8May2008PGR Bolduc2.pdf