regulatory variants

Regulatory variants are differences in our DNA that can affect how genes are turned on or off, rather than changing the genes themselves. Think of genes as instructions for building proteins, while regulatory variants act like switches that control when and how much of those instructions are used. These variations can influence traits, like susceptibility to diseases or responses to medication, by altering the activity of the corresponding genes. Identifying these variants helps researchers understand complex biological processes and develop targeted treatments in medicine and biotechnology.