Reverse genetics is a common term used in molecular biology research. It is the process of determining the function of a gene by analyzing the phenotypic effects that arise when the gene's activity is intentionally altered. There are several synonyms for reverse genetics that scientists use interchangeably. One such synonym is "functional genomics," which refers to the study of gene function. Another common synonym is "genome-wide association studies" which aim to identify genetic variants associated with particular traits or diseases. Other synonyms for reverse genetics include "targeted mutagenesis," "gene disruption," "gene removal," "gene knockout," and "gene silencing." All these synonyms enable scientists to manipulate genes to understand their function and how they contribute to disease.