(Hypertension. 1996;28:894.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Genetics '96 Satellite Symposim of the ISH, June 21, 1996, Glasgow, Scotland
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Introduction |
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The molecular genetics of hypertension has been an exciting and fruitful field of scientific discovery over recent years. This Genetics Symposium was held in Glasgow earlier this year (June 21) as a satellite of the International Society of Hypertension. It brought together scientists and clinicians dedicated to developing a clearer insight into the genetic determinants of hypertension, both in experimental models and in human essential hypertension. The first of these articles follow, and the remainder will appear in next month's journal.
In the first session of the symposium, concepts and strategies were discussed by Drs Klaus Lindpaintner, Nicholas Schork, Florent Soubrier, and Howard Jacob. It has become clear that new approaches for dissection of complex polygenic disorders such as hypertension require the development of a new statistical genetic strategy. Dr Schork discussed extensions to the standard quantitative trait loci (QTL mapping approach), which included accommodation of heterogeneity, modeling of multiple-loci effects, the use of multiple phenotypes, design of pharmacogenetic studies, assignment of significance levels to the results of a genome-wide search for influential loci, and assessment of the genetic basis of quantitative traits that exhibit developmental trends. With a somewhat similar approach, Dr Jacob and colleagues proposed a new mutiphased, targeted genotyping strategy that has reduced genotyping requirements while maintaining the overall power of the study. In the second session, the genetics of experimental hypertension was discussed. The current genetic linkage map of the rat allows for statistical estimates of QTL localization in only the 15 to 20 centimorgan range.