systems genetics

Mackay TFC, Stone EA & Ayroles JF 2009 The genetics of quantitative traits: challenges and prospects. Nat Rev Genet 10:565-577.

• a list of all genes and QTNs associated with quantitative traits is just that
• a list, devoid of biological context

• QTNs do not affect traits directly
• they do so through complex networks of transcriptional, protein, metabolic and other molecular endophenotypes
• the new challenge is to understand the causative and correlative effects of genetic perturbations on these networks and their downstream effects on organismal phenotypes