Issue: Medical Research News
Author: Weill Cornell Medicine
Published: 11/09/2024
Type of publication: Advertisement – Peer reviewed: Yeah
Content: Summary – Introduction – Major – Related
Synopsis: Molecular map of the human body and its complex physiological processes based on the analysis of molecules in blood, urine and saliva samples. The approach of combining genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic and other forms of so-called “-omics” research is known as “multiomics”. This reference tool is freely accessible and usable by researchers who want to investigate how the human body works at the molecular level and also for formulating hypotheses to test them through experimentation.
Introduction
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar (WCM-Q) have created an intricate molecular map of the human body and its complex physiological processes based on the analysis of thousands of molecules in blood, urine and saliva samples from 391 volunteers. The data was integrated to create a powerful, interactive, web-based visual tool called Connecting Omics (COmics) that can be used to investigate the complex molecular makeup of humans and uncover underlying traits associated with various diseases.
Main Summary
Molecular processes of the human body refer to the chemical reactions and interactions that occur within cells and between different cells, including crucial functions such as DNA replication, protein synthesis, energy production, cellular communication, and various metabolic pathways, all governed by complex protein-protein, protein-DNA, and protein-RNA interactions, which ultimately enable the body’s vital functions.
The comprehensive study, published on August 19, 2024, in Nature Communicationscollected 12 years of data from the Qatar Diabetes Metabolomic Study (QMDiab), a case-control study of diabetes in Qatar’s multiethnic population, predominantly of Arab, Filipino and Indian origin.
“Our idea was to bring together everything we have learned over more than a decade of multi-omics research to create a comprehensive molecular model of the human body and its processes,” said senior author Dr. Karsten Suhre, professor of physiology and biophysics and member of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine. “This reference tool is freely accessible and usable by researchers who want to investigate how the human body works at the molecular level and also for formulating hypotheses to test through experimentation.”
Through a collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation, the researchers collected multiple aliquots of blood, urine, and saliva samples from volunteers with and without diabetes. The samples were subsequently characterized on 18 different high-throughput analysis platforms, providing an extremely rich dataset including 6,300 individual molecular data points, including genomic data (DNA), transcriptome (RNA), proteins, and metabolites such as amino acids, sugars, and fats. In addition, they determined information on genetic variants, DNA methylation sites, and gene expression for each of the participants.
This allowed the researchers to uncover associations and pathways that link genetic traits to specific proteins, metabolic processes and diseases. They then painstakingly integrated the mass of data from all individuals into a web-based online tool that serves as an interface to “The Molecular Human,” the molecular description of the human body.
Continued…
The approach of combining genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics and other forms of research called “omics” is known as “multiomics.” This approach has emerged in recent years as a key strategy for biomedical researchers seeking to understand how the human body and diseases actually work, providing insights that could enable the development of new drug therapies.
For example, the study identified and described proteins and metabolites that are characteristic of type 2 diabetes subtypes, shedding light on the different ways in which the disease manifests.
“Our integrative omics approach provides an overview of the interrelationships between different molecular traits and their association with a person’s phenotype (their observable traits, such as their physical appearance, biochemical processes, and behaviors),” said first author Dr. Anna Halama, research assistant professor of physiology and biophysics. “The scale of the data integrated into the COmics web tool allows access to hundreds of thousands of pathways and associations for researchers to explore, offering enormous potential for discovery and research.”
Disclosures
Many Weill Cornell Medicine physicians and scientists maintain relationships and collaborate with outside organizations to foster scientific innovation and provide expert advice. Weill Cornell Medicine makes these disclosures public to ensure transparency.
Dr. Suhre is supported by the Weill Cornell Medicine Biomedical Research Program in Qatar, a program funded by the Qatar Foundation. He is also supported by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) grants NPRP11C-0115-180010 and ARG01-0420-23000. Dr. Halama is supported by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) grants NPRP12S-0205-190042 and NPRP11S-0122-180359.
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This peer-reviewed publication was selected for publication by the editors of Disabled World due to its high relevance to the disability community. Original author: Weill Cornell Medicineand published on 11/09/2024, content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarification, Weill Cornell Medicine He can be contacted at weill.cornell.edu. NOTE: Disabled World does not offer any warranty or endorsement related to this item.
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Cite this page (APA): Weill Cornell Medicine. (September 11, 2024). Connecting Omics: Molecular Map of the Human Body. Disabled worldRetrieved September 12, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/news/research/connecting-omics.php
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