Genome-wide association studies for the identification of biomarkers in metabolic diseases

The field of genetics as it relates to metabolic disorders such as obesity and type II diabetes is complicated, and along with the medical research community, great strides are being taken to begin to understand the biological and genetic underpinnings of these diseases, with the hope of improving therapeutic, diagnostic and preventive strategies.

Although research on metabolic disorders has been continuing for decades, the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the International HapMap Project in 2005 gave rise to an abundance of research tools, such as genome-wide genotyping, which allow researchers to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for detecting genetic variants that confer increased or decreased susceptibility to such complex diseases. In this review, the complex nature of metabolic disorders is discussed, specifically obesity and type II diabetes, as well as the limitations of the GWAS as applied to these disorders.

While acknowledging limitations of GWAS, it is hoped to provide an insight about how GWAS can be adapted and advantageous in the clinical setting, enhancing prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

To be able to use the GWAS in a clinical setting is a complex challenge, yet it is hoped that in the future this tool will ultimately allow the development of pharmaceutical options that are capable of targeting the cause of metabolic disorders, not just the symptoms themselves.