......and another revealing account of genetic hiccups....

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-causes-of-adult-onset-disorders-34609

'Researchers do know that genetic diseases fall into three main causative categories: defects in a single gene, mutations in multiple genes, and chromosomal abnormalities. While many genetic diseases manifest at birth, others do not show symptoms until later in life, some 30 to 70 years later. In the framework of late-onset disease, researchers know that polygenic disorders outnumber other types by orders of magnitude (Wright et al., 2003). Nonetheless, the causes of onset and progression of such disorders are poorly understood due to the complexity of the genetic mechanisms involved, as well as the interplay between these mechanisms and the environment. Some factors that trigger incurable diseases after decades of healthy life have been proposed, however. These factors, as described in the sections that follow, help explain the reasons for the marked prevalence of polygenetic disorders among the older population.

Accumulation of Harmful Mutations

A diverse and deadly list of afflictions can be categorized as late-onset disorders, including numerous cancers, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to name but a few. While some mutations that contribute to these disorders are present at birth, many more of these mutations arise from intrinsic failures of the genomic replication mechanisms within cells. Some of these failures can be traced to mutagens in the environment. In addition to causing mutations, mutagens can also trigger the expression of genes already present in the genome that are otherwise dormant. Together, this combination of accumulated harmful mutations and inappropriately activated genes can eventually manifest in pathology.'

http://www.mnd.ie/research-explained/genetic-studies-in-mnd ( re. Illumina SNP chips )

http://www.answers.com/topic/mutagen

Jan,
I didn't say that mice will not solve the riddle of ALS just that SOD1 mice model is not good or robust enough for solving SALS, unless they are extremely lucky.

As scientist don't know what causes SALS they are hoping the there is enough information in what they find within the SOD1 mice to lead then to some sort of palliative drug for SALS.

Unfortunately commercial funding has an influence on the research as research companies may not make enough money from curing a small subset of ALS, so most testing is directed at curing SALS.

So they use the wrong model to test drugs to see if they work on the majority of of PALS who, at this time, are seen to not have a genetic defect.

Good to hear, though, that they undertake genetic testing for ALS in Holland. Someone there understands the importance of doing so.

---

Into the heart, an air that kills, from yon far country blows.
What are those blue remembered hills, what sphires what farms are those.
That is the land of lost content,I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went and cannot come again

Jan,
if you see any of the Doctors say good luck and best wishes to them for me.. hooray for Holland.

---

Into the heart, an air that kills, from yon far country blows.
What are those blue remembered hills, what sphires what farms are those.
That is the land of lost content,I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went and cannot come again

Jan,
not as far as I know in UK.
I was just asked if ALS ran in my family and other than that nothing?

---

Into the heart, an air that kills, from yon far country blows.
What are those blue remembered hills, what sphires what farms are those.
That is the land of lost content,I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went and cannot come again

Jan,
without a genetic test looking for the known genes of FALS you wouldn't really know.
The chances are you are SALS but how can you be sure with so many genetic defects now being discovered?

---

Into the heart, an air that kills, from yon far country blows.
What are those blue remembered hills, what sphires what farms are those.
That is the land of lost content,I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went and cannot come again

Here's another excellent 3 minute reminder of some key issues......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhjCEH-sqvQ

.....this time by the recent award winning Prof Chris Shaw.

http://www.scoop.it/t/als-lou-gehrig-s-disease