The genetic connections that lie within our DNA genome sequences and are responsible for common diseases have been identified as part of a study. The research was conducted by Cambridge researchers and led by scientists at the Babraham Institute.
The technique employed as part of the study helped identify the biological genome that is responsible for the data linking within our DNA sequence, which can lead to risks of developing various diseases later in life.
The research used this pioneering technique in order to find missing links which will be used in designing new drugs, as well as future treatments for a spectrum of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune deficiencies.
"Mapping the genome's regulatory interactions establishes the missing link between a genetic change at one part of the genome with the gene it ultimately affects. While the results currently look promising, it will take many more years of work and rigorous testing before new treatments become available as a result of this fundamental research," noted Dr. Mikhail Spivakov, senior author of the paper.
Mapping The Genome Sequence
The research compared the genome sequences in hundreds of thousands of patients, as well as healthy subjects, discovering that the DNA alterations took place specifically in subjects who suffered from a series of diseases.
In the majority of the situations, these modifications took place in the DNA swaths between different genes, which are commonly called junk DNA. However, the fact that these modifications did not happen inside the genes or around them made it difficult for the scientists to identify the causal sequence that is responsible for different diseases.
The study, published in the journal Cell, employs the Promoter Capture Hi-C technique in order to identify the puzzle pieces that cause interactions between the genes and the DNA sequences. The technique helped in spotting the genome sequences that make physical contact.
New Directions In Developing Genetic Treatment
According to one of the lead authors of the study, hundreds of thousands of areas employed in the genetic activities were discovered by spotting which sectors of the genome made contact with which genes. As a result of this process, tiny DNA alterations occur in the sequence, obstructing the normal genetic control, which was found to be the main cause for developing diseases.
The reason why this research is groundbreaking is that it permits creating a causality between the manner that small genomic changes impact greater health aspects.
The research contributed to the identification of thousands of new genes to specific health conditions that are now clinically incurable. The results of this study could be further employed in creating new treatments to address these specific genes.
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