Genotype and cardiovascular phenotype: lessons from genetically manipulated animals and diseased humans

Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of cardiovascular diseases have been facilitated through animal models and human case studies. The identification of genes that contribute to human disease leads to functional studies of disease-associated mutations, and the use of genetically manipulated animals in these types of study are providing important insights into molecular mechanisms in vivo. This article reviews some genetically manipulated animal models of cardiovascular diseases, and their relevance to human conditions. Application of these approaches to address physiological questions is also discussed.