Researchers studying Fragile X Syndrome -- a genetic trigger for some cases of autism and mental retardation -- have discovered that messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a crucial role in the onset of the disorder. Previous studies have shown that the abnormal expansion of a particular trio of nucleotides, known as the CGG trinucleotide-repeat, can silence the fragile X mental retardation-1 gene, or FMR1, and result in Fragile X Syndrome.
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