Functional Genomics: Principles and Methods

Functional genomics studies address how genes, gene products, and noncoding sequences dictate phenotypes. Unlike traditional gene-by-gene approaches, functional genomics screens comprehensively interrogate genomes. Continuous advances in nucleic acid manipulation and gene-targeting tools, combined with the availability of complete genomes, the variety of phenotypes that can be screened, and the expanding capacity of omics data analysis, contribute to the lasting success of functional genomics in biological discovery. This chapter focuses on designing, implementing, and analyzing functional genetic screens in model organisms and human cells. It also reviews recent findings with profound impacts on biomedical research. Additionally, current limitations that still compromise the use of functional genomics screens across all model organisms and cells are examined, and future applications are anticipated. Given the extensive work presented in this chapter, there is little doubt that functional genomics screens will continue to be a powerful driving force in understanding how genomes regulate health and disease.