The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan

Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan
Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan
Genetic epidemiology deals with etiology, distribution, and control of disease in groups of relatives and with inherited causes of disease in populations. It took its first steps before its recognition as a discipline, and did not reach its present scope until the Human Genome Project succeeded. The intimate relationship between genetics and epidemiology was discussed by Neel and Schull (1954), just a year after Watson and Crick reported the DNA double helix, and 2 years before human cytogenetics and the Japan Society of Human Genetics were founded. It is convenient to divide the next half-century into three phases. The first of these (1956–1979) was before DNA polymorphisms were typed, and so the focus was on segregation and linkage of major genes, cytogenetics, population studies, and biochemical genetics. The next phase (1980–2001) progressively identified DNA polymorphisms and their application to complex inheritance. The last phase began with a reliable sequence of the human genome (2002), followed by exploration of genomic diversity. Linkage continues to be useful to study recombination and to map major genes, but association mapping gives much greater resolution and enables studies of complex inheritance. The generation now entering human genetics will have collaborative opportunities undreamed of a few years ago, without the independence that led to great advances during the past half-century.
genetic epidemiology, segragation, linkage, association mapping, human genome, genetic diversity, linkage disequilibrium, genetic loads
1434-5161
Morton, Newton E.
c668e2be-074a-4a0a-a2ca-e8f51830ebb7
Morton, Newton E.
c668e2be-074a-4a0a-a2ca-e8f51830ebb7

Morton, Newton E. (2006) Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan. Journal of Human Genetics. (doi:10.1007/s10038-006-0366-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Genetic epidemiology deals with etiology, distribution, and control of disease in groups of relatives and with inherited causes of disease in populations. It took its first steps before its recognition as a discipline, and did not reach its present scope until the Human Genome Project succeeded. The intimate relationship between genetics and epidemiology was discussed by Neel and Schull (1954), just a year after Watson and Crick reported the DNA double helix, and 2 years before human cytogenetics and the Japan Society of Human Genetics were founded. It is convenient to divide the next half-century into three phases. The first of these (1956–1979) was before DNA polymorphisms were typed, and so the focus was on segregation and linkage of major genes, cytogenetics, population studies, and biochemical genetics. The next phase (1980–2001) progressively identified DNA polymorphisms and their application to complex inheritance. The last phase began with a reliable sequence of the human genome (2002), followed by exploration of genomic diversity. Linkage continues to be useful to study recombination and to map major genes, but association mapping gives much greater resolution and enables studies of complex inheritance. The generation now entering human genetics will have collaborative opportunities undreamed of a few years ago, without the independence that led to great advances during the past half-century.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: genetic epidemiology, segragation, linkage, association mapping, human genome, genetic diversity, linkage disequilibrium, genetic loads

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24879
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24879
ISSN: 1434-5161
PURE UUID: a578e5b6-afe3-4f94-ba07-fddbc3c0ea13

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:59

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Newton E. Morton

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×