학술논문

A dyadic approach to the delineation of diagnostic entities in clinical genomics
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
American Journal of Human Genetics. January 7, 2021, Vol. 108 Issue 1, 8
Subject
California
Language
English
ISSN
0002-9297
Abstract
Summary The delineation of disease entities is complex, yet recent advances in the molecular characterization of diseases provide opportunities to designate diseases in a biologically valid manner. Here, we have formalized an approach to the delineation of Mendelian genetic disorders that encompasses two distinct but inter-related concepts: (1) the gene that is mutated and (2) the phenotypic descriptor, preferably a recognizably distinct phenotype. We assert that only by a combinatorial or dyadic approach taking both of these attributes into account can a unitary, distinct genetic disorder be designated. We propose that all Mendelian disorders should be designated as 'GENE-related phenotype descriptor' (e.g., 'CFTR-related cystic fibrosis'). This approach to delineating and naming disorders reconciles the complexity of gene-to-phenotype relationships in a simple and clear manner yet communicates the complexity and nuance of these relationships.