ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to concepts of and tools for the study of genetics and genomics. It examines research-related issues unique to the study of pain. The genetics of pain is a complex trait, due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Methodological and technological developments in genetics make the study of the genetics of pain tenable. A gene is composed of a linear segment of deoxyribonucleic acid that encodes instructions for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid molecules, which in turn provide the instructions for the synthesis of proteins. Genetic variations also referred to as polymorphisms, occur in many forms and include: single nucleotide polymorphisms, small-scale insertions/deletions, and repetitive elements. Genetic risk studies evaluate the contribution of genetics to a trait as compared to the environment and are pursued by family-based, twin, or adoption studies. Genes determine hereditary traits through the provision of precise instructions for cellular activity.
