Genetics of complex diseases: Variations on a theme

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetics of complex diseases

T2 - Variations on a theme

AU - Mellerup, Erling

AU - Møller, Gert Lykke

AU - Koefoed, Pernille

N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/6

Y1 - 2012/6

N2 - A complex disease with an inheritable component is polygenic, meaning that several different changes in DNA are the genetic basis for the disease. Such a disease may also be genetically heterogeneous, meaning that independent changes in DNA, i.e. various genotypes, can be the genetic basis for the disease. Each of these genotypes may be characterized by specific combinations of key genetic changes. It is suggested that even if all key changes are found in genes related to the biology of a certain disease, the number of combinations may be so large that the number of different genotypes may be close to the number of patients suffering from the disease. This hypothesis is based on a study of bipolar disorder.

AB - A complex disease with an inheritable component is polygenic, meaning that several different changes in DNA are the genetic basis for the disease. Such a disease may also be genetically heterogeneous, meaning that independent changes in DNA, i.e. various genotypes, can be the genetic basis for the disease. Each of these genotypes may be characterized by specific combinations of key genetic changes. It is suggested that even if all key changes are found in genes related to the biology of a certain disease, the number of combinations may be so large that the number of different genotypes may be close to the number of patients suffering from the disease. This hypothesis is based on a study of bipolar disorder.

U2 - 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.02.019

DO - 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.02.019

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22424717

SN - 0306-9877

VL - 78

SP - 732

EP - 734

JO - Medical Hypotheses

JF - Medical Hypotheses

IS - 6

ER -