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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

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Published on: December 19, 2011
Cis-acting regulatory variation in the human genome
Tomi Pastinen1, Thomas J Hudson
1McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, 740 Drive Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A4, Canada.
Identifying genetic variants that regulate gene expression is key to understanding human diversity and disease risk. Challenges include complex regulatory mechanisms and variant identification.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Human Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Systematic screening of the human genome for genetic variants affecting gene regulation is crucial.
- Understanding these variants advances knowledge of phenotypic diversity and disease risk alleles.
- Challenges exist in localizing regulatory polymorphisms due to complex mechanisms and variant linkage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the current state of knowledge and technologies for mapping and characterizing genetic variation controlling human gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Review of current technologies for mapping genetic variation.
- Characterization of genetic variation controlling human gene expression.
- Discussion of challenges in localizing regulatory polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- Current knowledge and technologies for mapping regulatory genetic variation are presented.
- Challenges in identifying causal regulatory variants are highlighted.
- The impact of cis-acting regulatory mechanisms and tissue-specific effects are discussed.
Conclusions:
- Mapping and characterizing genetic variation controlling human gene expression is essential.
- Overcoming challenges in variant localization will advance understanding of gene regulation.
- This field holds promise for identifying disease risk alleles and understanding phenotypic diversity.
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