Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that researchers have identified clusters of genes that appear to be involved in the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The findings, from the largest and most comprehensive clinical study to date, could lead to a better understanding of CFS.
Specifically, these findings may help with diagnosis, help with the development of treatment drugs, help understand who is at risk for CFS, and help identify preventive measures.
This research underscores both the promise of genomic research and the complexity of it. Genes are rarely a black-and-white issue, and genes rarely work alone. Identifying genes is just the beginning. Understanding how they are expressed, and the factors that affect their expression, is the next step.
Dr. Suzanne Vernon of the CDC has been quoted in the recent flurry of news coverage. She mentions a prior study that distinguished different gene activity patterns between healthy people and people with CFS, and explains: “What we have shown now is that in addition to the differences in gene activity that we know occur, there are actual differences in the genetic makeup — the DNA code — that probably results in the differences in the gene activity and also results in the manifestations of the illness itself.”
Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that researchers have identified clusters of genes that appear to be involved in the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The findings, from the largest and most comprehensive clinical study to date, could lead to a better understanding of CFS.
Specifically, these findings may help with diagnosis, help with the development of treatment drugs, help understand who is at risk for CFS, and help identify preventive measures.
This research underscores both the promise of genomic research and the complexity of it. Genes are rarely a black-and-white issue, and genes rarely work alone. Identifying genes is just the beginning. Understanding how they are expressed, and the factors that affect their expression, is the next step.
Dr. Suzanne Vernon of the CDC has been quoted in the recent flurry of news coverage. She mentions a prior study that distinguished different gene activity patterns between healthy people and people with CFS, and explains: “What we have shown now is that in addition to the differences in gene activity that we know occur, there are actual differences in the genetic makeup — the DNA code — that probably results in the differences in the gene activity and also results in the manifestations of the illness itself.”
This entry was posted on Friday, April 21st, 2006 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Genes & Environment, Human Genome. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.