Dyslexia is a condition which involves difficulties reading and writing despite normal intelligence and education, and one that affects 3-10 per cent of the population. The causes are thought to be partly genetic, and several possible candidate genes have been proposed. However, the biochemical mechanisms behind dyslexia remain unclear.

Named ROBO1, the gene under study is the first dominant gene related to the disorder so far identified. The gene directs the formation of connections between nerve cells. According to the head of the team, Professor Juha Kere, the discovery will provide an opportunity to examine the biological development of dyslexia.

The results of the research, which are to be published in the scientific journal PLoS Genetics, show that the gene was mutated in one dyslexic individual and had a lower expression in a group of others.

The research group, which identified the first dyslexia-linked gene two years ago, will now go on to try to discover exactly which effects of ROBO1 are the most critical. It is hoped that the findings may help open the way to developing new teaching methods for people with reading disorders.