Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic uses of human fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) proteins.

Abstract: Provided are methods and models for an alternative source of disease risk, which identifies not genetic variants for a phenotype per se, but variants for variability itself. Also provided are methods and models for a genome-scale, gene-specific analysis of DNA methylation in the same individuals over time, in order to identify a personalized epigenomic signature that may correlate with common genetic disease. Also provided are methods and models for simulating stochastic epigenetic variation as a driving force of development, evolutionary adaptation, and disease.

Abstract: A computer-based method of creating a gene expression barcode includes the steps of determining an intensity of expression for each gene in a set of genes in a plurality of samples for at least one type; selecting genes in the set of genes that have at least two expression modes, based on the intensity; and creating a gene expression reference barcode, wherein each barcode bar corresponds to a selected gene and wherein the bar value is coded according to whether an intensity value for a selected gene is below or above a threshold value. The gene expression reference barcodes may then be compared with a similarly created barcode for a sample, for the purposes of identifying the sample, diagnosing a disease, and/or predicting a prognosis of a disease.