The absolute criteria include optic neuritis and myelitis; while the supportive criteria are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of a contiguous spinal cord lesion (3 or more segments in length), MRI brain non-diagnostic for multiple sclerosis and serological evidence of NMO-IgG or aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies. The gene discussed is AQP4; the disease is optic neuritis.