Show pageBacklinksCite current pageExport to PDFBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Functional Assay ====== A **functional assay** is a laboratory test designed to evaluate whether a biological component (such as a gene, protein, or cell) performs its expected **biological function** under defined experimental conditions. ===== Definition ===== A functional assay is used to assess the **activity, behavior, or performance** of a biological molecule or system, often to determine its role in health or disease. > It measures what the component **does**, not just what it **is**. ===== Common Applications ===== * Determining the effect of **genetic variants** (e.g. VUS) * Testing **enzyme activity** * Evaluating **drug responses** in vitro * Measuring **cell proliferation**, apoptosis, or migration * Assessing **receptor signaling** capacity ===== Examples ===== ^ Target ^ What It Tests ^ Example ^ | Enzyme | Catalytic activity | ATPase assay for energy metabolism | | Receptor | Signal transduction | G-protein coupled receptor activation | | Gene variant | Transcriptional regulation | Luciferase reporter assay | | Cell | Proliferation/apoptosis/migration | MTT assay, scratch wound healing test | ===== Importance ===== Functional assays are essential in: * Interpreting the clinical relevance of **mutations** * Validating **therapeutic targets** * Exploring **mechanisms of disease** * Confirming **biological activity** of recombinant or engineered molecules ===== Related Terms ===== * [[biological assay]] * [[luciferase reporter assay]] * [[in vitro assay]] * [[variant of uncertain significance]] functional_assay.txt Last modified: 2025/07/09 14:17by administrador