Linkage and sequence analysis of a locus on the X chromosome that contributes to population variation in blood pressure

高血压是心脏病发作和中风的主要危险因素，每年有超过30，000名澳大利亚人死亡。血压是由遗传易感性和生活方式因素（如饮食）共同决定的。了解这些组合为降低心血管疾病的发病率提供了新的机会。我们最近发现，性染色体上的基因，即X染色体，似乎与高血压有关。在这一基本观察的基础上，我们将扩大我们的研究，使调查结果排除合理怀疑。我们将研究X染色体这一区域的基因序列，以发现DNA密码中的哪些变化可能导致高血压，以及这种变化是如何发生的。我们的研究利用了最近发布的整个人类基因组序列草案。在近800个健康志愿者家庭中进行的这些研究有可能为预防和治疗心血管疾病提供新的机会。

High blood pressure is a prominent risk factor for heart attack and stroke which kill over 30,000 Australians each year. Blood pressure is determined by the combination of inherited predisposition and lifestyle factors such as diet. Understanding these combinations offers new opportunities for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease. We have discovered recently that genes on the sex chromosome known as chromosome X appear to be linked with high blood pressure. Building on this basic observation, we shall extend our studies to place the findings beyond reasonable doubt. We shall investigate the gene sequences in this region of the X chromosome to discover what changes in the DNA code might lead to high blood pressure and how this might happen. Our studies capitalise on the recent release of the draft sequence of the entire human genome. These investigations in almost 800 healthy volunteer families have the potential to provide new opportunities for prevention and treatment of cardovascular disease.