Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Molecular genetic approaches contribute to the understanding of the underlying genetic mechanism for schizophrenia. Currently genetic evidence rests on molecular genetic methods. However, the results are contradictory and somewhat confusing due to genetic heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance, misspecification of genetic model. It is expected that molecular genetics could provide key answers to the genetic cause of schizophrenia. The purpose of this article is to call attention of the readers to heterogeneity, linkage, association, basic molecular genetic methods and genetic markers and to the need for further research. It is the author's hope that continuous research on the molecular genetics can provide clinicians with better understanding of the schizophrenia.

Keywords Schizophrenia;Linkage;Association;Candidate gene.