jan 1, 1983 - 1983: Huntington's disease is the first mapped genetic disease

Description:

HD is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease which usually manifests itself between 30 and 45 years of age . It's characterised by a loss of motor control, jerky movements, psychiatric symptoms, dementia, altered personality and a decline in cognitive function. As the disease is adult onset, many people have already had children before they are diagnosed and have passed the mutant gene onto the next generation.

In 1983, a genetic marker linked to HD was found on Chromosome 4, making it the first genetic disease to be mapped using DNA polymorphisms. However, the gene was not finally isolated until 1993.

Added to timeline:

Date: