Animis opibusque parati
Ze’ev A. Ronai · Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research · 2010
Animis opibusque paratiAbout 8 years ago, the first phase of a systematic genome-wide screen led to the identification of B-Raf mutations in melanoma.Earlier this year, members of the same research group reported on the first whole genome sequencing of a melanoma cell line.We live in exciting times, in which one can sequence whole genomes and transcriptomes -advances that enable unprecedented detection of small and large genomic changes or altered expression of specific transcripts.What once took years to decipher, we can now do in days.These advances pose new challenges.Processing enormous amounts of information requires new bioinformatic tools to dissect large data sets.But we will now have access to maps we never dreamed of -maps that present detailed multidimensional topography and enable us to gather global in addition to detailed changes.This information will reveal new genetic and transcriptional changes and further our understanding of disease etiology and previously unknown oncogenes and tumor suppressors, as well as the function of uncharacterized genes.These innovative times will also require functional genomic assessment of changes identified in genome-wide analyses.Biochemical and cell biological characterization of a single gene requires extensive efforts, and months to years of work.Multiply this by a thousand-fold to comprehend the magnitude of the tasks to come.Are we ready?In this issue, a News & Views by Keith Hoek discusses initial transcriptome analysis of melanoma cells by Levi Garraway.In preparation for the new, powerful technologies, one must consider the integration of methods that would allow sifting through the enormous amount of data to identify changes that deserve close attention and experimental follow-up.The NIH director's recent call for 'developing high throughput technologies to understand fundamental biology and uncover causes of specific disease' highlights the need to address these complexities and challenges.Can we devise simplified means for mass analysis?Probably yes, but that might require use of genetic models, which enable high throughput follow-up of phenotypic changes.Later, one may envisage a screen for putative inhibitors of newly identified genes ⁄ pathway components.A review herein by Rodney Nairn and Liz Patton highlights one genetic model, the fish, which could serve these purposes.Combining powerful genetics with more economical high throughput capabilities may allow characterization of genes associated with