Diagnosing Genetic Disorders
This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.
Dr. Murray Barr co-discovered an inactive chromatin linked to such genetic disorders as Down’s, Klinefelter’s and Turner syndromes. The discovery of the chromatin, known as the Barr Body, led to a simple diagnostic test for certain genetic abnormalities. It also spurred new research into genetically caused diseases.
The Western University researcher’s study of sex chromatin bodies helped us better understand and manage certain genetic disorders, including those associated with cognitive problems