Nano-Dissection: A New Strategy for Kidney Disease Gene Isolation

In order to control and combat most of human diseases, understanding of the genes that act on specific tissues to cause damage is critical. However, isolation of this gene is not probable in human tissue presenting a challenge in combating certain diseases.

 Recent study conducted by researchers at Princeton University and University of Michigan revealed that nona-dissection (a strategy that uses computer for dissection instead of scalpel) can be adopted for isolation of specific genes in a cell type.

 This technique was used to examine the genes expressed in a podocyte cell found in the kidney. 136 genes were isolated, two of which were identified to be responsible for kidney disease. The study findings also indicated that this new technique was more effective owing to the 65% effectiveness that was obtained versus 23% effectiveness experienced in the previous strategies. The researchers recommended the suitability of this technique in determination of harmful genes for effective control of the diseases they cause.