NEW YORK (AP) — In a key advance for the study of depression, a comprehensive scan of human DNA has turned up the apparent hiding places of more than a dozen genes linked to the disorder.

If those genes can be identified and studied, it could give scientists clues about the mysterious biology of depression. And that, in turn, could point the way to developing new treatments.

Researchers reported finding 15 potential hiding places for genes. Each has only a small effect on the risk of developing the disorder in people of European descent.

Results were released Monday by the journal Nature Genetics