Genes Show Limited Value in Predicting Diseases

I don't understand why they are saying this is the first time someone is saying that genes, and genetic association, are not sufficient. Eric Schadt has published some great work on network analysis and eQTL (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18552845). Others have argued about the importance of studying copy number variation.

"Gene expression" is the key phrase. Genes on their own don't mean much with regard to disease. Diet and lifestyle drive how they are expressed.