Candidate gene
Encyclopedia
A candidate gene is a gene
, located in a chromosome
region suspected of being involved in the expression of a trait such as a disease, whose protein
product suggests that it could be the gene in question. A candidate gene can also be identified by association with the phenotype and by linkage analysis to a region of the genome.
A popular way to identify candidate genes is by microarray
, this allows the researcher to analyse the expression levels of specific genes in a case control study, therefore if a gene is dysregulated in a disease it may be identified by microarray. However microarray has its weaknesses as it identifies all expression in the cell and could be reporting the expression of a gene which is affected by the disease rather than the cause.
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
, located in a chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
region suspected of being involved in the expression of a trait such as a disease, whose protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
product suggests that it could be the gene in question. A candidate gene can also be identified by association with the phenotype and by linkage analysis to a region of the genome.
A popular way to identify candidate genes is by microarray
Microarray
A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening methods.Types of microarrays include:...
, this allows the researcher to analyse the expression levels of specific genes in a case control study, therefore if a gene is dysregulated in a disease it may be identified by microarray. However microarray has its weaknesses as it identifies all expression in the cell and could be reporting the expression of a gene which is affected by the disease rather than the cause.