Banting and Best Department of Medical Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2011 Feb;22(1):66-74. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2010.11.001. Epub 2010 Nov 24.
Genome sequencing projects have revealed a massive catalog of genes and astounding genetic diversity in a variety of organisms. We are now faced with the formidable challenge of assigning functions to thousands of genes, and how to use this information to understand how genes interact and coordinate cell function. Studies indicate that the majority of eukaryotic genes are dispensable, highlighting the extensive buffering of genomes against genetic and environmental perturbations. Such robustness poses a significant challenge to those seeking to understand the wiring diagram of the cell. Genome-scale screens for genetic interactions are an effective means to chart the network that underlies this functional redundancy. A complete atlas of genetic interactions offers the potential to assign functions to most genes identified by whole genome sequencing projects and to delineate a functional wiring diagram of the cell. Perhaps more importantly, mapping genetic networks on a large-scale will shed light on the general principles and rules governing genetic networks and provide valuable information regarding the important but elusive relationship between genotype and phenotype.
基因组测序项目揭示了各种生物中大量的基因目录和惊人的遗传多样性。现在，我们面临着为数千个基因分配功能的艰巨挑战，以及如何利用这些信息来了解基因如何相互作用和协调细胞功能。研究表明，大多数真核生物基因是可有可无的，这突出了基因组对遗传和环境干扰的广泛缓冲。这种稳健性给那些试图理解细胞接线图的人带来了重大挑战。全基因组筛选遗传相互作用是绘制功能冗余基础网络的有效手段。一个完整的遗传相互作用图谱有可能为通过全基因组测序项目确定的大多数基因分配功能，并描绘细胞的功能接线图。也许更重要的是，大规模绘制遗传网络将揭示遗传网络的一般原则和规则，并提供有关基因型和表型之间重要但难以捉摸的关系的宝贵信息。
