Today is National Fragile X Awareness Day. Although this is an American awareness day other awareness days have crossed geographical boundaries. The European Fragile X Awareness Day is on October 12th 2012. Fragile X is the most common genetic cause of Learning Disability and the most commonly known cause of Autism. Fragile X Syndrome results from extra sequences in the Fragile X gene. The gene is known as FMR1. Compared to the more commonly occuring form of the gene there are more CGG sequences or CGG repeats in Fragile X Syndrome. CCG refers to two of the basic building blocks of DNA – Cyotosine and Guanine.
These repeated DNA building blocks significantly alter the function of the protein that the DNA codes for. This protein is involved in neural development. Autism and Learning Disability are classed as developmental disorders.
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