Hypertensive rat genome sequence expected to uncover genetic basis of human hypertension
Monday, May 3, 2010 - 01:40
in Biology & Nature
Chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious health risk factor that afflicts more than 25 percent of all adults worldwide, but the molecular basis of the disease remains poorly understood. In a new study, scientists have sequenced the genome of the spontaneously hypertensive rat, building a rich catalog of genetic variants that will help researchers to understand causes of the disease in humans.