Investigating the Molecular Basis of Major Depressive Disorder Etiology

Genes play a major role in behavioral adaptation to challenging environmental stimuli, but the complexity of their contribution remains unclear. There is growing evidence linking disease phenotypes with genes on the one hand, and the genesis of stress-related disorders like major depression, as a result of exposure to stressful environmental pathogens on the other. Here we illustrate the convergent role of monoaminergic genes in regulating the underlying biological mechanisms of stress and the emotions. By reviewing data that support a role of monoaminergic and other related genes in environmental adaptation, we conclude by advocating the use of convergent approaches in examining the genetic modulation of disease phenotypes.