4. Global Approach to Biomedicine: Functional Genomics and Proteomics

Functional genomics (transcriptomics and proteomics) is a global, systematic and comprehensive approach to identification and description of the processes and pathways involved in the normal and abnormal physiological states. The most applied methods of functional genomics today are DNA microarrays and proteomics methods, primarily twodimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry. Up to date interesting research have been carried out, representing the milestones for future implementation of functional genomics/proteomics in biomedicine. Still, further systematic examination of differentially regulated genes and proteins in tissues and fluids in healthy vs. diseased subjects will be required. However, high-throughput technologies reflect biological fluctuations and methodological errors. Large amount of such different data challenges the performance and capacity of statistical tools and softwares available at the moment. Yet, further major developments in this field are pending and the intellectual investment will certainly result in clinical advances.