Scientists at the University of Toronto have discovered a way to map the interactions of genes within a cell, a significant breakthrough that promises to help researchers better understand the causes of disease, and lead to more precise targeting of drug treatments.

Working with cells from simple yeasts, the researchers developed a method to map the interactions within these cells, the first time this has been done for any organism. Because yeast cells are remarkably similar genetically to human cells, this mapping process has important implications for improving research into human health, such as better understanding the genetic basis of disease.

The mapping process will enable scientists to develop a complete atlas of genetic interactions, thereby making it possible to decode the functions of all of the thousands of genes in a cell. Such an atlas will provide valuable information about the link between an individual’s genotype (a person’s unique genetic makeup) and phenotype (the behaviours of that individual’s genes). This information will build understanding of what genetic interactions are going wrong when a disease happens in a body.