Intra- and inter-individual genetic differences in gene expression.

ABSTRACT: Genetic variation is known to influence the amount of mRNA produced by a gene. Because molecular machines control mRNA levels of multiple genes, we expect genetic variation in components of these machines would influence multiple genes in a similar fashion. We show that this assumption is correct by using correlation of mRNA levels measured from multiple tissues in mouse strain panels to detect shared genetic influences. These correlating groups of genes (CGGs) have collective properties that on average account for 52-79% of the variability of their constituent genes and can contain genes that encode functionally related proteins. We show that the genetic influences are essentially tissue-specific and, consequently, the same genetic variations in one animal may upregulate a CGG in one tiss

SUBMITTER: Cowley MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2690833 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature