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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
Genetic Diagnosis of Rare Diseases: Past and Present
Feliciano Ramos-Fuentes1, Antonio González-Meneses2, Elisabet Ars3
1Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Genética Clínica, Servicio de Pediatría, CIBERER-GCV02 and Grupo DGA B20, Hospital Clínico Universitario 'Lozano Blesa', Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. framos@unizar.es.
Abstract:
Rare diseases are heterogeneous life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions that affect < 1 in 2000 individuals, and most have a genetic component. The diagnostic process is usually based on classic clinical practices, such as physical examination, personal and family history (inheritance pattern), laboratory tests and image studies, but diagnosis can be delayed several years after the initiation of symptoms. The advances in molecular genetics that have taken place in recent years have led to an important shift in medical practice and in its approach to the diagnosis and treatment of many rare diseases. The objective of this review is to promote a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying genetic diseases in humans and the tools available for their diagnosis. A practical example of X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets is described.
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