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Uses and misuses of definitions of genetic polymorphism. A perspective from population pharmacogenetics [letter]
Author(s) -
Arias TD,
Jorge LF,
Barrantes R
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1991.tb03870.x
Subject(s) - citation , population , pharmacogenetics , library science , medicine , genealogy , genetics , sociology , demography , genotype , biology , history , computer science , gene
Definitions of genetic polymorphism currently employed in the pharmacological literature have been incorrectly used (Kalow, 1984) and uncritically imported from population genetics [e.g., Weinshilboum (1984), Evans (1977)], apparently without regard to the problems their application might present in pharmacogenetics or, more specifically, in pharmacogenetic studies of populations. Since a strong background in population genetics is not widespread amongst population pharmacogeneticists and especially amongst pharmacologists, there is a growing danger that these definitions will be misinterpreted or incorrectly used, as research on potentially polymorphic biotransformation routes increases. The term polymorphism was first defined by E. B. Ford who stated that