Simple Genes and Complex Diseases

Genes and Diseases

The science of medical genetics is progressing rapidly. The practical importance of this pro­gress should be considered by medical doctors. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the abnormail phenotypes considered diseases. The relative significance of the two factors varies from disease to disease. All di­seases can be viewed as falling on a spectrum in this regard. Hereditary...

Dscam and DSCAM: complex genes in simple animals, complex animals yet simple genes.

Cadherins and the immunoglobulin (Ig) proteins give rise to a multitude of surface receptors, which function as diverse cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) or signal-transducing receptors. These functions are often interdependent, and rely on a high degree of specificity in homophilic binding as well as heterophilic interactions. The Drosophila receptor Dscam is an exceptional example of homophilic ...

Identifying Causal Genes and Dysregulated Pathways in Complex Diseases

In complex diseases, various combinations of genomic perturbations often lead to the same phenotype. On a molecular level, combinations of genomic perturbations are assumed to dys-regulate the same cellular pathways. Such a pathway-centric perspective is fundamental to understanding the mechanisms of complex diseases and the identification of potential drug targets. In order to provide an integ...

Strategies for Identification of Susceptibility Genes in Complex Autoimmune Diseases

Using inbred mouse strains to identify genes for complex diseases.

In recent years, genetic studies in humans have identified a handful of genes that are associated with common disorders, but our understanding of such diseases at the genetic level remains relatively rudimentary. The use of mice to dissect the complex genetic etiology of common disorders offers a viable alternative to human studies since experimental parameters, such as environmental influences...