Obesity Gene Variants Revealed by New Genomic Technique
Until recently, researchers could only prove the genetic link to obesity to a small extent. Thanks to a study completed by Kelly Frazer and her fellow scientists at UC San Diego, Sripps Translational Science Institute, and Sanofi-Aventis, this genetic link has become more clear. Using a new technique they discovered two DNA variants in two genes of the nervous system that have been associated with high body mass index values. The group of researchers screened for genetic markers in a large group of people who are associated with obesity. The enzymes that were focused on were FAAH and MGLL; these two control endocannabinoids in the brain and the regulation of energy balance and appetite. Endocannabinoids are a group of lipids and receptors that deal with physiological processes such as appetite, mood and memory. Within these two genes there were four specific areas that were discovered to have extremely close relation to amazingly high body mass index values. The four regions are: FAAH promoter, MGLL promoter, MGLL intron 2, and an enhancer in the MGLL intron 3. Further testing proved that the results of these experiments are consistent with previous studies. This breakthrough is especially exciting because of the fact that obesity is a growing health concern in America.
Obesity Gene Variants Revealed By New Genomic Technique...
ReplyDeleteObesity is highly heritable, but so far genetic association studies have only explained a small fraction of this heritability. Now, in a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology, researchers have identified DNA variants i...
I'm sure this is going to make people, who are obese, feel better because now they know that being obese wasn't entirely their lifestyles' fault, as many have false assumptions that it is completely dependent on lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteI hope this research can lead to better treatment of obese people, because the ones who are extremley obese, they have it really rough.
This discovery can be good and bad. It's good because this may lead to better treatments for those with obesity. Hopefully treatments that will help them lose weight so they can reach a healthy weight goal and treatments that can help prevent them from having type 2 diabetes. It can be bad because some people may look at this and think there is nothing they can do so they might as well not eat healthy and not attempt exercise, which will only add to the health problem.
ReplyDeleteI find this article interesting for the implications it has on researching other "hidden" heritability traits. This new method of gene sequencing is likely to be used in many more projects other than just obesity. I wonder what gene variants will be linked to disease next?
ReplyDeleteGenetic testing for obesity gene is very helpful for many people how are on risk of future obesity disease. Thanks
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