Using genetic variation to study immunomodulation.
The generation of a draft sequence of a human genome has led to the identification of millions of common variants, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, which constitute a resource for studying complex diseases. Currently, high-density maps of variants in candidate genes, chromosomal regions or the entire genome should encourage investigation of determinants of human immune response, using quantitative analysis. Ultimately, this approach should identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.