From sequence to functional understanding: The difficult road ahead

Abstract

DNA sequencing has become cheap, rapid and accurate, allowing us to access thousands of genomes and reveal the extensive variation among individuals. The major problem that arises from this is distinguishing between neutral and pathogenic variants. A recent study by Davis et al., in which a functional screen of all the non-synonymous variants of a newly discovered gene was performed, highlights the value and necessity of characterizing the functional consequences of each genomic variant discovered. This is the main challenge for the advancement of genomic medicine in the years to come. © 2011 BioMed Central Ltd.