Superlink@Technion plays important role in genetic disease research

Superlink@Technion is playing an increasing more important role using its linkage analysis in Parkinson's Disease research. In a recent blog entry by Sergey Brin of Google, he talks about his predisposition to develop Parkinson disease due to genetic mutation of the Lrrk2 gene. Mark Silberstein, manager of Superlink@technion and the Superlink-online project highlight's the importance of linkage analysis in detecting this mutation.

Mark goes on to say that "In a scientific paper published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, it explains the methodology of finding several mutations which cause Parkinson disease". He also add's that "LOD score analysis ( the methodology which is implemented by Superlink-online and enabled, in part, through Superlink@Technion) played an important role in finding several Parkinson-related mutations".

Some important notes here.

1. Superlink was NOT used in these cases - for the datasets in the paper (many small families analyzed) another algorithm was more appropriate, and it didn't require massive computing power. Superlink, on the other hand, is the only algorithm applicable for large family analysis.

This PET scan shows patterns in the brain which aid the physician in diagnosing and treating Parkinson's Disease 2. As with everything in biology, the existence of these mutations in one's genome may lead to the development of the disease in 20-80% of cases. It's certainly not the only cause of Parkinson's, but still knowing these mutations has led to a better understanding of the mechanism of the disease, alas, there is still no cure is available. Also worth noting that by identifying these mutations, a person may change their life style in an attempt to prevent the development of the disease.

Although the Superlink-online success stories list does not include such famous diseases as Parkinson yet, the methodology we're enabling through massive computing power of Superlink@Technion, does have the potential to reveal the next disease-provoking mutation.

Read more about superlink@technion HERE.

Video about genetics and inheritance

This documentary shows that biology stands on the brink of a shift in the understanding of inheritance. The discovery of epigenetics, hidden influences upon the genes, could affect every aspect of our lives. At the heart of this new field is a simple but contentious idea, that genes have a 'memory'. That the lives of your grandparents, the air they breathed, the food they ate, even the things they saw, can directly affect you, decades later, despite your never experiencing these things yourself. And what you do in your lifetime, could in turn affect your grandchildren.