Reverse genetics

Reverse genetics starts with a known gene or sequence, alters or inhibits it, and studies the resulting phenotype to infer its function.

Gene knockout: A genetic alteration that completely disables a gene’s function. Removing a gene tests which traits depend on its activity.
Gene: A DNA sequence that contributes to a functional product, such as an RNA or protein. Reverse genetics begins by selecting a gene whose role is unknown or incomplete.
Functional genomics: The study of gene and genome functions through large-scale experimental and computational analysis. Reverse genetics supplies perturbation-based evidence for functional genomics.
Genome-wide association study: An observational study that associates genetic variants with traits across a population. Association identifies candidate variants, while reverse genetics tests their effects experimentally.
RNA interference: A cellular process and experimental method that uses small RNAs to reduce expression of complementary genes. It can suppress a target gene without permanently changing DNA.
Gene expression: The processes by which information in a gene produces a functional RNA or protein. Expression levels can change after perturbation and help explain observed traits.
Forward genetics: An approach that begins with a phenotype and identifies the genetic changes responsible for it. It reverses the usual starting point by moving from trait to gene.
Quantitative trait locus mapping: A method for locating genomic regions associated with variation in a quantitative trait. It maps trait-linked regions without necessarily perturbing a known gene.
CRISPR-Cas9: A genome-editing system that uses guide RNA and Cas9 to target specific DNA sequences. It enables targeted gene disruption and other sequence changes.
Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism or cell, including particular alleles or variants. A perturbation changes genotype, which may then alter phenotype.

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