Researchers identify candidate genes by sifting through genetic material to find genes linked to a specific medical topic. They use algorithms to narrow down possibilities and analyze them to determine if they are candidate genes. Identifying candidate genes helps understand genetic conditions and can aid in diagnosis and patient care.
A candidate gene is a gene suspected of being involved in a particular disease, condition or abnormality. Researchers find candidate genes through a painstaking process that involves sifting through large amounts of genetic material to identify genes and determine what they do. Once a candidate gene can be positively linked to a specific medical topic of interest, researchers can begin to explore variations in the gene and how it affects the body.
To find a candidate gene, researchers first identify the area of a particular chromosome that they believe is involved in the process of a genetic condition. Then, they look for specific genes within that area to see if they can find a gene that might be a likely suspect. Researchers can use information about the protein product of a particular gene to find out whether or not it is a candidate gene; protein products are the molecules that are built using the information in a gene.
Mapping candidate genes is a lengthy process. Many researchers use algorithms to narrow down the possibilities, rather than trying to manually plow through genetic information. Once the possibilities are identified, they can be subjected to analysis to determine whether or not they are candidate genes. Given the sheer number of genetic conditions, associated with genes found in everyone, identifying candidate genes is a bit like looking for a very small needle in an extremely large haystack.
Finding candidate genes is important. From a purely research level, scientists are interested in finding out exactly what is responsible for various genetic conditions and how faulty genes cause people to develop hereditary diseases and other abnormalities. Researchers are also interested in the interactions between defective genes, how defective genes develop and the evolutionary history of those genes. Some harmful genetic conditions are linked to adaptations originally designed to help people thrive in harsh environments, for example.
From a patient care perspective, the ability to identify genes involved in disease processes can be helpful in diagnosis, as patients can be tested to determine whether or not they carry the gene responsible for a condition. People can also undergo genetic testing to see if they are at risk of passing dangerous genetic material to their children. In theory, it may be possible to manipulate harmful genes to turn them off or alter their expression so that people with these genes do not experience the medical conditions associated with them.
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