the Rhode Island scientist studying the gene in Madelyn's post.

The significance of these discoveries of gene mutations found to be associated with Parkinson's goes something like this;
Each gene so discovered reveals another protein involved in metabolic and/or developmental pathways essential to maintaining normal brain function. The presence of mutations in such a protein, especially if it has a known activity, identifies its activity as being involved in the pathway(s) of normal function. By studying where that protein is present, and how the discovered mutation(s) affect its activity, important clues as to how one might correct the malfunction may be revealed.
Ten or twelve such PD-related genes have thus far been discovered in the last ten or fifteen years. Unfortunately,the true function of only one or two of the proteins produced by those genes are known. The identification of each such protein and the eventual discovery of their functions provides more pieces of the puzzle that should reveal the big picture of normal brain function and how to restore it.

Robert