<p>Scientists have developed a comprehensive map that can help point the genetic causes of differences between people, providing powerful clues for diagnosis, prognosis and intervention of different diseases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study led by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE)'s Faculty of Medicine, offers the largest-ever dataset linking human genomes to gene activity at the level of RNA.<br /><br />Understanding how each person's unique genome makes them more or less susceptible to disease is one of the biggest challenges in science today, researchers said.<br /><br />Geneticists study how different genetic profiles affect how certain genes are turned on or off in different people, which could be the cause of a number of genetic disorders.<br /><br />The study conducted by over 50 scientists from nine European institutes, measured gene activity (gene expression) by sequencing RNA in human cells from 462 individuals.<br /><br />The study adds a functional interpretation to the most important catalogue of human genomes.<br /><br />"The richness of genetic variation that affects the regulation of most of our genes surprised us," said study coordinator Tuuli Lappalainen.<br /><br />"It is important that we figure out the general laws of how the human genome works, rather than just delving into individual genes," said Lappalainen.<br /><br />The biological discovery was enabled by a staggering amount of RNA data from multiple human populations.<br /><br />"We have set new standards for production, analysis and dissemination of large RNA-sequencing datasets," said Peter 't Hoen from Leiden University Medical Center, who coordinated technical analysis of the data.<br /><br />Knowing which genetic variants are responsible for differences in gene activity among individuals can give powerful clues for diagnosis, prognosis and intervention of different diseases, researchers said.<br /><br />Emmanouil Dermitzakis, who led the study, emphasised that the study has profound implications for genomic medicine.<br /><br />"Understanding the cellular effects of disease-predisposing variants helps us understand causal mechanisms of disease," Dermitzakis said.<br /><br />"This is essential for developing treatments in the future," he said.<br /><br />The study was published in journal Nature.</p>
<p>Scientists have developed a comprehensive map that can help point the genetic causes of differences between people, providing powerful clues for diagnosis, prognosis and intervention of different diseases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study led by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE)'s Faculty of Medicine, offers the largest-ever dataset linking human genomes to gene activity at the level of RNA.<br /><br />Understanding how each person's unique genome makes them more or less susceptible to disease is one of the biggest challenges in science today, researchers said.<br /><br />Geneticists study how different genetic profiles affect how certain genes are turned on or off in different people, which could be the cause of a number of genetic disorders.<br /><br />The study conducted by over 50 scientists from nine European institutes, measured gene activity (gene expression) by sequencing RNA in human cells from 462 individuals.<br /><br />The study adds a functional interpretation to the most important catalogue of human genomes.<br /><br />"The richness of genetic variation that affects the regulation of most of our genes surprised us," said study coordinator Tuuli Lappalainen.<br /><br />"It is important that we figure out the general laws of how the human genome works, rather than just delving into individual genes," said Lappalainen.<br /><br />The biological discovery was enabled by a staggering amount of RNA data from multiple human populations.<br /><br />"We have set new standards for production, analysis and dissemination of large RNA-sequencing datasets," said Peter 't Hoen from Leiden University Medical Center, who coordinated technical analysis of the data.<br /><br />Knowing which genetic variants are responsible for differences in gene activity among individuals can give powerful clues for diagnosis, prognosis and intervention of different diseases, researchers said.<br /><br />Emmanouil Dermitzakis, who led the study, emphasised that the study has profound implications for genomic medicine.<br /><br />"Understanding the cellular effects of disease-predisposing variants helps us understand causal mechanisms of disease," Dermitzakis said.<br /><br />"This is essential for developing treatments in the future," he said.<br /><br />The study was published in journal Nature.</p>