The use of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the isolation of common disease genes

The numerous successes using positional cloning to identify genes mutated in monogenic disorders has galvanised geneticists to start using similar techniques to tackle common complex diseases such as asthma, osteoarthritis, depression and early onset heart disease. The technology is currently at an intermediate stage in which linkage in family studies is being supplemented with locus-specific association studies in populations, enabling accurate localisation of the disease causing or susceptibility gene. These studies are often labour and time intensive unless focus is placed on biological candidate genes. In general, most candidate gene studies for common diseases have been unrewarding. However, single nucleotide polymorphisin (SNP) mapping has accelerated complex disease gene localisation, providing a tool to narrow the linkage region by the detection of multiple SNPs associated with the disease in a relatively small linkage disequilibriuln (LD) region. Identification of susceptibility genes will enable a better understanding of the mechanisms of the disease processes and will facilitate the discovery of new and more efficacious medicines. Whole genome SNP maps will also allow abbreviated SNP profiles to be developed for pharmacogenetic applications, enabling physicians to tailor therapeutic regimens (i.e., identify patients likely to receive therapeutic benefit and not suffer adverse reactions).