Discovering the Genetics of Complex Disorders Through Integration of Genomic Mapping and Transcriptional Profiling

Discovering the genes that contribute to complex polygenic diseases represents a significant challenge. Investigating the structural genetic variations associated with these disorders may not be sufficiently informative about vulnerability genes modulated by the environment. Characterizing gene expression patterns does not identify the primary differences in gene structure. The convergence of global screening of gene expression patterns with extensive structural genomic information may be necessary to identify the gene clusters that contribute to these pervasive diseases. These integrative efforts, though promising, are in their early phases and will require further refinement.