IIT Madras-Danish study uncovers genetic Switches that could revolutionise disease research

chennai: scientists from iit madras and the technical university of denmark have discovered how interactions between genetic variants can act like “switches,” unlocking hidden metabolic pathways and reshaping our understanding of complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.the study, published in nature communications on august 27, 2025, reveals that two genetic variants in yeast—mkt1(89g) and tao3(4477c)—can work together to activate a previously dormant arginine biosynthesis pathway. this interaction creates entirely new molecular outcomes, including a “metabolic trade-off” that enhances sporulation efficiency by suppressing ribosome production.researchers used a temporal multi-omics approach, integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to capture how these genetic switches reprogram cellular networks over time. the findings demonstrate that gene-gene interactions, rather than single mutations, play a critical role in shaping health and disease.“the implications extend far beyond yeast,” said prof. himanshu sinha, department of biotechnology, iit madras. “many human diseases arise from complex gene interactions. our work provides a framework to systematically study these dynamics, enabling biomarker discovery and personalised therapies.”lead author srijith sasikumar, a phd student at iit madras, likened the phenomenon to “flipping two switches at once, which suddenly activates a hidden backup circuit.”the research opens doors to multiple applications:precision medicine: identifying biomarkers and drug targets that reflect combined genetic effects.synthetic biology: engineering gene interactions to optimise metabolite, biofuel, or pharmaceutical production.agriculture and biotech: designing stress-tolerant crops and industrial microbes with customised metabolic traits.the study underscores that timing of gene interactions is as critical as the interactions themselves, a key insight for developmental and progressive diseases.