Mutations in genes such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein (TARDBP coding for TDP-43 protein), ubiquilin2 (UBQLN2), fused in sarcoma (FUS), chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72), cause 10% of familial cases of ALS, however, the majority of cases are sporadic (90%) without a family history of disease10,11. The gene discussed is UBQLN2; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.