The role of proteins in living organisms has been addressed elsewhere.  One of the issues is how proteins are synthesized in the cells and what governs the sequence of amino acids that are stitched together.  The answer to that lies in large part with the genetic code or set of instructions given.  The code and how it is read and applied is the province of genomics.  As we shall see, the system for the regulation of and functioning of cations depends upon discovering the codes for various proteins and how the codes are read and under what circumstances mis-reading and self-correction can occur.  The topic of how other factors might impact  the faithful reproduction of proteins comes under the heading of epi-genetics and will be deferred to another place.

In the early days of genetics, studies were done by observing the results of breeding plants or animals of particular phenotypes such as leaf or eye color.  One determined whether inherited characteristics were dominant or recessive according to whether each parent or only one parent had a particular trait.  With today's tools, and our understanding of the nature of genetic material (DNA - desoxynucleic acid), studies are more likely done on a molecular scale rather than a whole organisms scale.  This has ushered in the field of genomics - the study of genetics at the molecular level.  We now know that DNA that resides in the cell nucleus carries all of the information needed to direct the synthesis of all of the chemicals needed by the organism.  In the early days of genomics studies it was believed that for each protein made there was one gene on the DNA strand that was responsible for that protein.  We now know that there may be multiple proteins produced from a gene and that there may be multiple genes involved in the synthesis of a particular protein.

Genetic conditions may be pre-disposing for most of the diseases under consideration. --- Typically diseases are the result of multiple genetic defects.   Few are of a single locus.

Genomics starts with the DNA structure - the alpha helix formed of a long string of nucleotides stitched together through four different base pairs.  The four bases serve as the base for a triplet code that identifies which amino acid should attach to which.  Other codes are for stopping or starting the reading of the code or carrying out other control functions.

Replication / Mitosis

Translation to RNA

Transcription to protein synthesis

Genetics of Key Proteins in Cation Activity

Genetics of Diseases linking to cation dysfunction

Furthermore,  we understand that there are coding sequences of nucleotides on the DNA strand that direct the reading / transcription of the code and the formation of messenger RNA-ribonucleic (mRNA) that leaves the nucleus to direct protein synthesis in the cytoplasm.  Furthermore we understand the important role of translation signaling pathways that turn on or turn off the synthesis of these proteins. 

Gene Expression

We have identified a significant opportunity in furthering our understanding of the role of cations in metabolism and homeostasis. Homeostasis is that collection of interdependent reactions and systems that make the difference between being healthy, pain free and feeling good or being run-down, ailing or suffering from acute illnesses, pain and vulnerable to infections. The level of magnesium ions is critical to dozens of enzymatic reactions in the body and is known to be involved in many diseases, yet its regulation and regulating entities are not well known.

These little understood mechanisms for magnesium ion regulation include their role in disease processes - diseases such as heart arrhythmia, maternal pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, high blood pressure, cell replication dysfunction, deficient energy production, muscle and nerve hyper- or hypo-activity, diabetes and more. We need your support to help us develop an international collaboration between government, academic and industrial scientists.

DNA, RNA, mRNA, tRNA, iRNA, et al.

Multi-gene diseases
Multi-gene, multi-focal disease are those for which more than one gene may contribute to the development of the disease. Cancer is a classic example where mutations in a variety of genes may lead to different forms of the disease.
Other ..

Gene sequencing may be carried out to relate the coding sequence to the production of various proteins. ...

GWAS - Genome Wide Association Studies.  This is one type of study in which differences in expression of various genes is observed in a group of individuals.  Studies may be conducted of multiple groups having different "phenotypes"; such as those with a high incidence of cancers versus those with a low incidence of the same disease.  TO EDIT

Epi-genetics