{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T20:58:38Z","timestamp":1790715518973,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,19]],"date-time":"2022-03-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1647648000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cells"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The European Fragile X Network met in Wroclaw, Poland, November 2021, and agreed to work towards the eradication of the word \u201cretardation\u201d in regard to the naming of the fragile X gene (FRAXA) and protein (FMRP). There are further genes which have \u201cretardation\u201d or abbreviations for \u201cretardation\u201d in their names or full designations, including FMR1, FMR2, FXR1, FXR2, NUFIP1, AFF1, CYFIP1, etc. \u201cRetardation\u201d was commonly used as a term in years past, but now any reference, even in an abbreviation, is offensive. This article discusses the stigmatisation associated with \u201cretardation\u201d, which leads to discrimination; the inaccuracy of using \u201cretardation\u201d in these designations; and the breadth of fragile X syndrome being beyond that of neurodiversity. A more inclusive terminology is called for, one which ceases to use any reference to \u201cretardation\u201d. Precedents for offensive gene names being altered is set out. The proposal is to approach the HGNC (HUGO [Human Genome Organisation] Gene Nomenclature Committee) for new terminology to be enacted. Ideas from other researchers in the field are welcomed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cells11061044","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,20]],"date-time":"2022-03-20T21:25:00Z","timestamp":1647811500000},"page":"1044","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["The Use of \u201cRetardation\u201d in FRAXA, FMRP, FMR1 and Other Designations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Jonathan","family":"Herring","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Law, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3UL, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3733-4947","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kirsten","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Fragile X Society, Great Dunmow CM6 1DA, UK"},{"name":"Fragile X International, Egmont St 11, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J\u00f6rg","family":"Richstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fragile X International, Egmont St 11, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium"},{"name":"Interessengemeinschaft Fragile-X e.V, 18055 Rostock, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2022, March 18). 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