Editing Forward genetics (section)

{{Short description|Molecular genetics approach}}
'''Forward genetics''' is a [[molecular genetics]] approach of determining the genetic basis responsible for a phenotype. Forward genetics provides an unbiased approach because it relies heavily on identifying the genes or genetic factors that cause a particular phenotype or trait of interest.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Moresco EM, Li X, Beutler B | title = Going forward with genetics: recent technological advances and forward genetics in mice | journal = The American Journal of Pathology | volume = 182 | issue = 5 | pages = 1462–1473 | date = May 2013 | pmid = 23608223 | pmc = 3644711 | doi = 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.02.002 }}</ref>

This was initially done by using naturally occurring mutations or inducing mutants with radiation, chemicals, or [[insertional mutagenesis]] (e.g. [[transposable elements]]). Subsequent breeding takes place, mutant individuals are isolated, and then the gene is [[gene mapping|mapped]].  Forward genetics can be thought of as a counter to [[reverse genetics]], which determines the function of a gene by analyzing the phenotypic effects of altered DNA sequences.<ref name="wfg">{{cite web|title=What is the Field of Reverse Genetics |url= http://www.innovateus.net/health/what-field-reverse-genetics |publisher=innovateus |access-date= 13 November 2014}}</ref> Mutant phenotypes are often observed long before having any idea which gene is responsible, which can lead to genes being named after their mutant phenotype (e.g. [[Drosophila]] ''rosy'' gene which is named after the eye colour in mutants).<ref name="parsch">{{cite web| vauthors = Parsch J |title=Forward and Reverse Genetics |url=http://bio.lmu.de/~parsch/evogen/ForRevGen.pdf |publisher=Ludwig-maximilians-universitat Munchen |access-date=31 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141213013532/http://bio.lmu.de/~parsch/evogen/ForRevGen.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>