Population variation in disease-like variants Genetic association studies regularly find support for the involvement of certain genetic variants or closely linked mutations in the etiology of various complex diseases. These variants often increase disease risk only mildly. Though, in general, European populations are genetically fairly similar, genetic and environmental/cultural variation can still be large enough to change the mutation's significance or ease of detection. We are investigating how much odds ratios vary geographically and the underlying causes for such variation.
The role of non-coding elements Apart from the protein-coding elements of DNA, many other sequences can be important for cell functioning. Online sequence and expression data are a rich source for detecting informative patterns.
Contact:
Dr. Carolien de Kovel