Many genetic loci have been associated with autoimmune diseases through linkage analyses, but it has been a major challenge to isolate actual disease genes. The sequencing of the human genome and mapping of single nucleotide polymorphisms will speed the identification of these genes, and may also help explain how environmental factors such as bacteria and viruses can induce autoimmunity.
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Bowcock, A., Lovett, M. Zeroing in on tolerance. Nat Med 7, 279–281 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/85408
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/85408
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