MODIFICATION OF NEUROBEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF MERCURY BY A GENETIC POLYMORPHISM OF COPROPORPHYRINOGEN OXIDASE IN CHILDREN

摘要

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method and reagents for predicting a subject's susceptibility or risk to developing a neurobehavioral deficit associated with mercury exposure. The method comprises performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of a CPOX4 polymorphism in one or both alleles of the coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPOX) gene, and classifying the susceptibility of the subject to developing a neurobehavioral deficit associated with mercury exposure. A subject determined to possess the CPOX4 polymorphism in at least one allele of the CPOX gene is classified as having an increased susceptibility to developing at least one neurobehavioral deficit associated with mercury exposure compared to a subject with no CPOX4 polymorphisms.