A forward-genetic approach for analysis of the immune system.
The completion of the genome sequences of both humans and mice challenges biologists to determine gene function on a vast, whole-organism scale. Both phenotype-based ('forward') and gene-based ('reverse') strategies are being developed to approach this issue. Forward-genetic approaches, however, provide the unique ability of assigning function to genes in an unbiased, global manner that is independent of previous assumptions about gene function. In this article, we compare various genetic technologies for their potential role in dissecting immune-system development and function, with particular emphasis on the worldwide efforts that use chemical mutagenesis as a forward-genetic strategy.
Appleby
Mark W
MW
Discovery Biology, Celltech R & D Inc., 1631 220th St SE, Bothell, Washington 98021, USA.
Ramsdell
Fred
F
D000818:Animals; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010641:Phenotype
D005038:Ethylnitrosourea