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(15 Nov 1996) Parkinson Gene- Comments First the facts, gleaned from today's LA Times, p.1 (my copy of Science hasn't arrived): Research at or supported by the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), reported by Roger Duvoisin and Matt Kurtz, has confirmed that there is a genetic link to PD. They studied DNA from 28 afflicted members of a large Italian family and found that a mutant gene resides in a short region of Chromosome 4 of the subjects. They haven't identified it precisely but are sure that is just a matter of time. The final successful search in other hereditary diseases has taken from a few months to as long as 8 years. Now, opinions: When the errant gene is identified, there will be a huge rush by patients for analysis to confirm their diagnosis, and to screen their close relatives. I don't know anything about the actual process of analysis (despite constant references to it in the O. J. Simpson trial) but I assume it is tedious, complex, and costly. I think PD is by far the most common of the diseases that can be linked to a gene defect, so there will be major growth in the DNA testing industry. There will be contentious disputes over relative merits of different techniques, and competition between laboratories for the business. PWP will be shopping for a test provider the way they now shop for a neurologist or a therapy that suits their preference. As for future therapy, I expect that knowing exactly which gene is bad will permit various forms of gene transfer, already under development, to come much closer to a cure for PD. When you think about it, there aren't any other hereditary neural diseases that are actually "curable". In any case, wonderful news! Cheers, Joe J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks CA 91403