Genetic interaction network
Genetic interaction networks represent the functional interactions between pairs of genes in an organism and are useful for understanding the relation between genotype and phenotype. The majority of genes do not code for particular phenotypes. Instead, phenotypes often result from the interaction between several genes. In humans, “Each individual carries ∼4million genetic variants and polymorphisms, the overwhelming majority of which cannot be pinpointed as the single cause for a given phenotype. Instead, the effects of genetic variants may combine with one another both additively and synergistically, and each variant’s contribution to a quantitative trait or disease risk could depend on the genotypes of dozens of other variants. Interactions between genetic variants, along with the environmental conditions, are likely to play a major role in determining the phenotype that arises from a given genotype.” Genetic interaction networks help to understand genetic interactions by identifying such interactions between pairs of genes.

Because genetic interactions provide insight into how genotype connects to phenotype in an organism, improved knowledge of genetic interactions in humans could provide crucial insight into complex diseases. Unfortunately, due to the impossibility of isolating subjects with single genetic variants, it is not possible to directly map the genetic interaction networks in humans. Researchers hope that learning about the characteristics of genetic interaction networks in suitable organisms will provide tools for constructing the genetic interaction network of humans.
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