Gastroenterology and Endoscopy

Genetics and Molecular Biology in Gastroenterology

New approaches through Molecular biology and Genetics towards understanding regulation of growth and adaptation of the small intestine by the isolation and characterization of genes and complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding gastrointestinal peptides, growth factors and their receptors are made possible. Nucleotide sequencing provides prerequisite structural information. Analyses of intestinal growth in transgenic animals that overexpress or under express growth factor or receptor genes provides direct information about peptide effects on growth. Analyses of gene expression by quantitation and localization of mRNAs provide information about correlations between local alterations in peptide or receptor synthesis and intestinal growth.