Renal Development and Disease From Gene Screening to Functional Genomics

Functional genomics is best defined as a tool-kit consisting of a variety of molecular, cellular, and whole-animal approaches, all directed towards elucidation of the role played by genes and their encoded products in maintaining physiological performance or triggering pathologic events. These elements are not controlled by a single gene, but by an ensemble of genes and their products which support the integrated functions of an organ. Understanding the 'wholeness of these ensembles represents thus a major challenge for functional genomics: It is the spatial and temporal mapping of these processes that constitutes the ultimate goal of biomedical research. This publication is intended to facilitate the recognition of the challenge ahead to provide the tools to address the special requirements of kidney research. Several reviews included describe technical approaches to gene screening, other reviews offer examples of the complexities of gene function in various disease states or their models and an introduction to the use of proteomics to study renal disease. The thoughts and experimental examples gathered in this publication will be a first step in the enormous task ahead towards a better understanding of renal function in health and disease.Goligorsky, Michael S. is the author of 'Renal Development and Disease From Gene Screening to Functional Genomics' with ISBN 9783805573832 and ISBN 3805573839.