Dyslexia gene discovery brings hope to sufferers

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Findings from a team at Oxford University showed that early identification of the gene in young children could help them cope with the condition.

It could also help children born with the condition to learn to read and write more easily and lead to improved general treatment of dyslexia which - although not linked in any way to intelligence - disrupts a child's ability to read and write.

The team behind the findings said that the gene which they identified is carried by about 15 per cent of the British population.

Dr Silvia Paracchini, from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford, said: "On average, people carrying this common genetic variant tended to perform poorly on tests of reading ability.

"However, it is important to note that this is only true for reading ability and not for IQ, so it doesn't appear to be connected to cognitive impairment."

The study was based on 6,000 British children aged between seven and nine, and part of a wider investigation that has been monitoring the health and development of 14,000 mothers and their children for the past 18 years.

Scientists say it was already known that a particular DNA pattern was linked to reduced activity during development in the womb. The mutation affects the cerebral cortex, the section of the brain responsible for thought processes.

Professor Margaret Snowling, vicepresident of the British Dyslexia Association, said: "The finding of a gene associated with reading ability in the general population as well as in dyslexia is in line with our observation that there are degrees of dyslexia from mild to severe. It also implies that there are other genes or environmental experiences which must be involved in determining reading ability.

"This ties in with what we have known for many years - some individuals are able to compensate and go onto successful careers even though they carry this gene variation."

According to Professor Snowling, early identification of the KIAA0319 gene could "lead to positive outcomes for literacy and other skills".