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Genetic variant interpretation: a primer for clinicians
Author(s) -
Kaushik Varun,
Plazzer JohnPaul,
Winship Ingrid,
Macrae Finlay
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.15485
Subject(s) - interpretation (philosophy) , medicine , genetic testing , genetic diagnosis , cancer genetics , genetics , cancer , gene , biology , computer science , programming language
Abstract Clinicians beyond specialist genetic services are now able to order tests to interrogate the genetic basis of disease. Behind every genetic report lies a significant body of work that draws on decades of collaboration between clinicians, researchers and database curators. Understanding these advances in genetic variant interpretation may allow practising clinicians to develop a more nuanced appreciation of the role genetic variant interpretation can play in the diagnosis and management of heritable disorders. In this article, we consider genetic variant interpretation with reference to efforts to better understand variation in the mismatch repair genes and their relation to Lynch syndrome – the most common cause of hereditary colon cancer.