Genes Linked to Height, Heart Disease, and Blood Lipid Levels

According to US News researches involved in the SardiNIA study, which had the goal of identifying genes associated with diseases and other traits, have found genes related to height reduction.  Along with these findings, also other gene variants were found to be related to blood lipid levels and gene regulation of hemoglobin were analyzed.

During the study which began in 2001 researches originally were only able to study approximately 2.5 million common genes variants; after advancements in sequencing technology the were able to examine 17 million genes which allowed them the opportunity for better findings.

Specifically, two genes were found to affect height significantly - when these two gene variants are combined they can potentially result in 2.3 inch reduction in height.

Two additional genes were found to be related to blood lipids levels which intern can affect inflammation in the blood which can increase the risk of heart disease.

Lastly, during this study the researches analyzed gene regulation of hemoglobin which they found 23 associations at 10 gene locations; hemoglobin levels are related to life threatening diseases such as sickle cell anemia.

 

I think that any findings about gene variations and how they affect or could potentially affect our population is very important.  Even if the gene itself isn't directly related to a disease or a trait it could still in the future have the possibility of aiding in figuring out why certain traits arise or how/why certain diseases occur, or even more so help in figuring out cures or medicines for those with the traits   or diseases that in someway could affect their lives in some way or another.