Children's helps create genome-based atlas for kidneys

An international consortium of researchers led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has generated the first comprehensive blueprint of a forming mammalian organ, providing insight into the genetic and molecular dynamics of kidney development.

The study, involving embryonic mice, shows how the entire genome is regulated to produce thousands of specific genes that are mixed and remixed to form genetic teams, which work together to direct the formation of 15 embryonic compartments in the developing kidney.

A combination of microarray analysis, laser capture micro-dissection and fluorescent activated cell sorting was used to isolate specific types of cell populations, and the use of bioinformatics allowed the team to see how different sets of genes cooperate through circuits or pathways.

Researchers believe that their findings will help them understand the underpinnings of human disease because of the mouse's genetic similarity to people.

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