Genome Medical Sequencing for Gene Discovery
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Summary
Background: \- A number of rare inherited diseases affect only a few patients, and the genetic causes of these conditions remain unknown. Researchers are studying the use of a new technology called genome sequencing to learn which gene or genes cause these conditions. Understanding the genes that cause these diseases is important to improve diagnosis and treatment of affected patients. Objectives: * To identify the genetic cause of disorders that are difficult to identify with existing techniques. * To develop best practices for the medical and counseling challenges of genome sequencing. Eligibility: * Individuals who have one of the rare disorders under consideration in this study. These conditions are generally those in which the genetic cause of the disorder is unknown. The eligibility of most individual participants will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the researchers. * Family members of affected individuals, if that family member (often a parent) may provide genetic information. Design: Participants in this study will have at least one and in some cases several of the following procedures: * A medical genetics evaluation. * Other tests that may include x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams, and consultations with other doctors. Not all studies are necessary for each person, but the information from the tests may be required to proceed with some of our gene sequencing studies. * Clinical photographs to document certain aspects of the disorder. * Blood, saliva, and skin biopsy samples, or other tissue samples, as required by the study doctors. * Genetic testing, as decided by the researchers. However, most participants in this study can expect to undergo genome sequencing, which is a technique to study all of a person s genes. * Participants will have choices about what kinds of results from genome sequencing they wish to learn. * After the tests have been completed and the results of the genetic studies are known, participants may be offered a return visit to the National Institutes of Health to learn these results, or the results may be returned by telephone or by a participant's home provider.
Description
We aim to use genome scale medical sequencing (GSMS, to include exome and whole genome sequencing as appropriate) to discover causative molecular lesions for a set of rare, severe phenotypes hypothesized to be caused by either somatic mutations, germline de novo heterozygous mutations, germline inherited recessive, or germline inherited dominant mutations in currently unknown or uncharacterized genes. The goal of this research is threefold: to identify causative sequence variants for disorders whose molecular etiology was previously unknown, to apply this insight to both the rare disorders un…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 0–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: An individual who is affected with a disorder under study and is older than 4 weeks. Our initial list of exemplar disorders has been discontinued; these disorders were examples of those which meet the general attributes for inclusion in this protocol. As stated above, individuals with disorders we choose to investigate under this protocol will generally represent simplex cases with rare phenotypes whose molecular etiology is unknown. In rare instances, we may accept DNA from deceased individuals, including DNA or other saved biological specimens from deceased fetuses/ne…
Location
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland