Scientists have discovered 15 gene mutation that can cause intellectual disabilities. Researchers from Radboud University Medical Centre in Netherlands found a mechanism in fifteen genes that play a role in the development of intellectual disabilities. <br/><br/>Christian Gilissen, who led the research said that they were able to detect genes in which mutations affect the gene in a different way. <br/><br/>He said, although mutations eliminating genes were often thought to be the main cause of intellectual disabilities, mutations altering the function of genes are now shown to be an important factor as well. <br/><br/>Intellectual disabilities are often caused by a mutation that damages a gene, preventing the associated protein from functioning properly.<br/><br/> However, a mutation can also change the function of a gene. As a result, the gene in question acts in a completely different way.<br/><br/>