Delineation of Novel Monogenic Disorders in the United Arab Emirates

Monogenic disorders result from a single defective gene and are inherited according to Mendel's Laws (Mendelian disorders). Such gene defects arise from a mutation that can either be inherited or occur spontaneously; both may occur in the absence of a previous family history. Inherited mutations can be dominant or recessive, and autosomal or sex-linked. According to WHO, although individually rare, collectively monogenic disorders affect millions of people worldwide. Currently, over 10,000 human diseases are estimated to be monogenic. Until recently the identification of the genetic causes, especially of extremely rare phenotypes, has not been possible or cost effective due to the scientific challenges of identifying causative mutations through linkage analysis. The advent of cost effective next generation sequencing now facilitates the identification of all rare variants across the whole genome, in turn allowing mutation identification in small families and, if de novo, even in single cases.

The clinical application of single gene sequencing potentially provides tangible benefits to patients, informing diagnosis and prognosis, and may guide treatment choice. Next generation sequencing (NGS) panels sequence multiple genes in parallel and are now entering the clinical domain. NGS provides significant advantages over single gene sequencing for conditions which are genetically heterogeneous, such as the epilepsies. However, as more genes are included in an NGS panel, the possibility of incidental findings rises significantly, with associated challenges in result interpretation. Since many conditions are phenotypically as well as genetically heterogeneous, acquisition of detailed phenotypic information is essential for meaningful interpretation of NGS results.

Monogenic (Mendelian) disorders have historically provided the clearest means of elucidating human gene function. The linkage of a rare DNA variant to altered protein function or dose to discrete phenotype has important implications for fundamental biology, monogenic disease pathogenesis, complex traits, diagnostics and therapy. By representing the most readily interpretable component of human genetics in defining a clear, high-penetrance phenotype arising from alteration in function of a single gene, study of monogenic disorders can identify the genetic basis for novel or existing phenotypes and provide insights into non-redundant biological pathways that may inform therapeutic targeting for both the specific rare variant and common diseases. Accordingly the primary purpose of this programme is to identify novel monogenic phenotypes and discover underlying causal genetic variants by genetic sequencing in families across the UAE.