Is it useful for scientists to study the genes that cause a disease?

Yes. Especially if it is a genetic disease. In some cases there are ways of treating or curing diseases based on that information. Currently, scientists are studying the genes that cause diseases because it is possible that if they find the genes they can edit them and end the diseases. 

Buttes re created through an erosion process, it’s when a captock overlies a layer of a less resistant rock. The harder rock on the top of butte resists erosion and the captock provides protection for the less distant rock. Buttes are pretty tall, flat topped, and steep sided.