Genetics: After scientists identify a gene, then what?

Question

This article appeared on news.google.com today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=471736&in_page_id=1774

and it tells how scientists identified a gene responsible for MS. It seems new genes are getting discovered frequently. But what is the next step? What applications come from this knowledge? Currently, how far has the scientific community gone so far in developing applications from discovering genes?

And yes, I've seen Gattica. I'm hoping someone who has real world knowledge of this subject (as opposed to the movies) can answer this question.

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

If they haven't already, they will sequence this gene and compare it to genes of those that don't have MS. If there is something wrong with the sequence (the instructions on how to make the functioning protein) this will likely play a role in the next step.

They will likely insert the gene sequence into possibly bacteria to mass produce the protein. They will then they will try to crystalize the protein (this will help them figure out the shape of the protein).

They will want to figure out what exactly this protein does in comparison to the protein found in nonMS patients. To do this they will study the gene in human cell cultures. Then they will probably then insert this gene sequence into mice or rats to study the effects in a more complex living organism. Again...trying to figure out exactly what this protein is doing.

If this gene makes a nonfunctioning protein, that is in essence playing a huge causitive role in MS, they will try to design drugs that knock-out the functioning of this bad protein or the bad gene. But in order to knock-out its function, the scientists must know how it works and what it looks like: structure determines function. once they design drugs, they will study the drugs in cell lines then mice/rats to see if the drugs have any effect.

OR...they can design drugs that can replace the actions of the protein if indeed the protein is needed to prevent MS.

Answer 2

Actually, the VERY next thing researchwise that is probably done after a gene is located and identified is to develop a test for it.

Sometimes this in itself can be very beneficial - people who know they will develop a certain disease, or who even have a predisposition to it, can live lifestyles that are more conducive to their health, delay disease onset, and otherwise make the affliction less onerous. Likewise, there are MANY diseases where early detection can stop it altogether or make treatment much easier.

For example, if you know you are predisposed to, say, liver cancer, you can have tests done to detect such a development much more frequently, avoid other risks for cancer, and even prepare for more extreme options.

Once the gene is mapped out, there are other possibilities as well. Knowing a gene can give an indication about how what that gene produces is broken, which can also lead to a medicine for an otherwise untreatable condition. And there have been medicines developed by as few as a dozen scientists who just look at a gene, figure out what needs to make things right again, and engineering some bacteria to produce it.

In the future, it may even be possible to shut down defective genes or add working ones in ways that aren't harmful. This is something that is being researched and experimented on right now... but isn't anything anyone can reliably do. Yet!

Answer 3

The biggest thing gene identification does is that it allows doctor's to identify another risk factor for disease, another test that can be performed to assist in determining if someone is genetically at risk for developing the disease. Gene identification also leads to more studies, knowing that the gene causes the disease allows scientists to determine what exactly the gene does that causes the disease. Drugs may be developed if whatever the gene produces can be inhibited.

Answer 4

once you have isolated the gene - you now have a center of focus.

Let's say that scientists have sucessfully isolated a gene which is associated with MS.

Well, now we can clone that similar gene in a different organism to see how it functions.

First, we would try to manipulate that gene in bacteria. There are several things that you can do. For example:

1.) We would insert that gene into bacteria in one dish and remove the gene in another dish. Then we could see how affects the organism.

2.) We could overexpress it so it is always turned on, (always producing protein) and see what that results in

3.) Then we could underexpress it so its not expressed as often as it should be.

once we derive conclusions from this, we would better understand how this gene works.

then we could test it in other animals and eventually humans. this would allow us to develop medicine or therapy so that this gene is appropritately expressed and not producing disease causing effects.

Answer 5

Then comes publishing...spreading of the word so that others can 'apply' the 'new'ledge. Then over to Starby's for a much-deserved coffee break.