Molecular Epidemiology

Molecular epidemiology is a branch of hybrid science fields like epidemiology and molecular genetics. It helps in proper assessment of cancer susceptible genes by detailed study of biological characteristics and mechanism of disease associated with it. Molecular epidemiology helped in assessing black box of epidemiology. Epidemiologic vernacular is revealed by proper identification of exposure to cancer causing agents among different populations. This is referred to as effect modification. It is referred by bioinformatics scientist as effect of interaction. The invention of polymerase chain reaction assisted epidemiologist to incorporate molecular markers to identify the carcinogen both at molecular level and biochemical level which pose cancer threat to individuals.

Applications of molecular epidemiology

Molecular epidemiology helps in prediction of interactions among the populations, their mechanism, environmental factors and genetic factors that are involved in tumor initiation, promotion and progression stage of cancer. Use of molecular markers helped to prevent the cancer by some alterations or modifications in cancer susceptible genes. It also in easy prediction of exposure to causative agents and risk posed. Characteristics of biomarkers that can induce risk are delineated by Perera and Weinstein as follows.

• Susceptibility
• Internal dose
• Response
• Biologically effective dose

In addition, molecular epidemiology provides adequate informations on gene expression and their association with carcinogenesis, abnormal aberrations and mutations. This gives basic knowledge about biological pathways of protein that are involved in cancer development. With extensive availability of scientific technology cancer pathways shall be traced. Molecular epidemiology gives an outline for multistage carcinogenesis process and heterogeneous exposure to causative agents. Molecular epidemiologist benefits by correlating different polymorphism of cancer development and use of multiple biomarkers in order to prevent the individual from specific cancer. It also allows assessment of quantitative cancer risk and prevention strategies.

Challenges of molecular epidemiology

Issues posed by molecular epidemiology are as follows.

• Measurement of effect and risks
• Selection of gene susceptible genes
• Assessing sample size
• Selection of biomarker
• Prevalence of genetic polymorphism
• Assessing interaction among the individuals

 Questions:

• What are benefits and challenges of molecular epidemiology?
• How molecular biomarker helps in finding cancer susceptible genes?
• What are the risks posed by bimolecular characterization?
• What is difference between hybrid molecular epidemiology technology and epidemiology?
• How molecular epidemiology helps in cancer prevention?