genebyGene

Genebygene is a term used in genetics and genomics to describe a gene-by-gene approach to analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It emphasizes treating the individual gene as the central unit of study and assembling evidence for each gene into a cumulative, gene-level summary rather than relying solely on genome-wide or pathway-focused analyses. The term is used variably and does not denote a single standardized framework.

In practice, genebyGene workflows involve compiling gene-centric data from multiple sources. This includes curated gene models, variant effect predictions mapped to a specific gene, literature and database annotations, and per-gene relevance or pathogenicity scores. Analyses may employ gene panels or per-gene reporting to prioritize candidates in diagnostic sequencing and to organize results in a clinically or educationally interpretable way.

Applications of the gene-by-gene approach span disease gene discovery, clinical sequencing and reporting, functional genomics studies, and instructional contexts where gene-level interpretation is emphasized. It can complement broader analyses by providing clear, modular summaries that can be updated as new evidence emerges for individual genes.

Advantages of a gene-by-gene focus include improved interpretability, alignment with clinical decision-making workflows, and easier incorporation of newly released gene evidence. Limitations include potential neglect of regulatory elements outside coding regions, non-coding variation, and interactions among genes or networks. The approach can also be resource-intensive to curate across large gene sets.

See also: gene-centric analysis, gene panel, variant interpretation, exome sequencing.