Genes Linked to Multiple Diseases

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15692995


New research at Edinburgh University has led researchers to believe that single genes can be linked to more than one disease.  For example, genes responsible for Crohn's disease are also linked to other conditions like breast cancer, high cholesterol and obesity (to name a few).  In addition, cancer and heart conditions can be linked to a common gene just as fetal haemoglobin and a risk of malaria are also linked.  A possible benefit of this study is the ability to avoid side-effects in developing medications.  In addition, the article stresses that single gene linkages to multiple diseases is more common than most people think.