TY  - JOUR
T1  - Commentary on an article by Alpesh A. Patel, MD, et al.: “Evidence for an Inherited Predisposition to Lumbar Disc Disease”
AU  - Wong, David A.
Y1  - 2011/02/02
N1  - 10.2106/JBJS.J.01726
JO  - The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
SP  - e10 1
EP  - 1
VL  - 93
IS  - 3
N2  - 
Readers should take particular note of the methodology and the conclusions from this article. In our lifetime, we have been fortunate to witness the extraordinary finale to the first crucial stage of the human genome project1—full human gene sequencing. With this enhanced knowledge of the DNA that connects us all, genetic analysis such as that seen in this article by Patel et al. will become increasingly important. We stand at the threshold of developing genetics-based evaluation and treatment for many ailments. However, the first requirement of genetic analysis is to determine which disease states have a likely genetic component and would thus be appropriate areas for more detailed research. The population-based methodology used by Patel et al. is particularly suited to this task. The methodology, involving tracking a database of >2.4 million people, is at the same time admirable but also astonishing. The statistical analysis inherent in this methodology may lead researchers to the specific genes responsible for diseases of the spine as it has already done for breast cancer. We are likely to see further research on any number of musculoskeletal conditions using this methodology.

SN  - 0021-9355
M3  - doi: 10.2106/JBJS.J.01726
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.01726
ER  -