Gene Expression Variability Gives Rise To Incomplete Penetrance

Biologists have struggled for many years to explain how it is possible that some people who carry a mutated gene don't express the trait or condition associated with the mutation. This common but poorly understood phenomenon, known as incomplete penetrance,  may be partially due to environmental factors and the influence of other genes, but scientists say other factors are likely at work here as well. The authors of a new study in Nature say that some cases of incomplete penetrance may be controlled by random fluctuations in gene expression. In a study of intestinal development of C. elegans, a small worm, the team was able to pinpoint specific fluctuations that appear to determine whether the mutant trait is expressed or not. read more

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