RNA Sequencing and Genetic Disease

Abstract Purpose of Review Next-generation sequencing is a revolutionary approach for highly accurate identification of gene associations with specific human disease phenotypes. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) holds great promise for identifying distinct gene expression “signatures” for the detection, prognosis, and chemosensitivity of human disease. However, this technique has yet to be adopted as a standard medical practice. Recent Findings The recent emergence of high-throughput, next-generation sequencing technology has facilitated significant advancements in understanding evolutionary diversity and disease. RNA-seq in particular is an invaluable tool for profiling transcription across the entire human genome (i.e., the “transcriptome”) at high resolution, providing the means to quantitatively study links among genotypes, transcript abundance, and other transcript-based features and human phenotypes. RNA-seq technology provides an essential layer of molecular information providing investigators and clinicians a systems genetics prospective of human disease. Integrated analysis of DNA- and RNA-seq data allows elucidation of the causal and regulatory mechanisms of the complex traits of human disease. Summary Here, we review RNA-seq technology and present a summa...
Source: Current Genetic Medicine Reports - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research