Research Natural genetic variation quantitatively regulates heart rate and dimension
Genetic Mapping and Functional Validation Experiments Reveal Insights into the Genetic Basis of Cardiac Traits and Disease
Despite significant advances in cardiovascular research, the polygenic contribution to heart development and function along the health-disease continuum remains poorly understood. A team led by Jochen Wittbrodt, in collaboration with researchers at the EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute, has used highly inbred medaka strains to investigate the genetic basis of cardiac traits. The authors successfully mapped 59 genetic loci linked to heart rate and used gene editing tools to validate conserved genes affecting heart rate and morphology. This study published in nature communications not only led to the discovery of novel heart-related genes but also established a robust framework that highlights the power of isogenic medaka strains in uncovering mechanisms of cardiovascular biology, paving the way for future research and potential new therapeutic strategies.
