Results of a Defect in the MC4R Gene

A study was conducted to link obese individuals with the MC4R gene. Obese individuals usually enjoy indulging in foods with high fat content. High fat content will lead to an excess in caloric intake which may lead to weight gain.A study was conducted with lean and obese individuals. However, some of the obese individuals possessed the defective MC4R gene. The individuals were taken to an open buffet. The buffet served chicken with similar tastes, but each entrée contained a different percentage of fat content. The result was that the obese individuals with the defective gene ate significantly more of the higher fat content chicken than the lean and obese individuals. The defect in the gene causes individuals to enjoy eating the higher fatty foods than an individual with an unaffected gene. Another experiment was conducted, but this time the test was sugar content. The obese individuals with the defective gene ate remarkably less of the higher sugar content in this desert. The lean and obese individuals liked the desert with the higher sugar content. The calories obtained per gram of fat is double the amount produced by carbohydrates and proteins. The individuals with the defective gene are preferring to eat foods with higher fat content which further allows for a problem with weight gain. This article was very interesting to read because obesity is such a big problem in this country. For many individuals it is difficult to lose weight and this gene is most likely the cause of the problem. It would be very interesting if the same gene in an unaffected individual was cloned and administered to the genome of an individual with the defective gene. It is possible that this would allow an obese individual with the defective gene to have less desire to eat such unhealthy, high fat content foods.

Could You Be Wearing "Fat Jeans" Because of Fat Genes?

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles, in addition to environmental factors such as diet and exercise, obesity is indeed linked to an individual's genes. For 16 weeks, over 100 genetic strains of mice were treated in laboratories under identical conditions. Each were first given a healthy, well-balanced diet for a duration of 8 weeks followed by a high-sugar, high-fat content diet for the remaining 8 weeks. The results were very interesting; Although handled under the same environmental conditions, there was a prominent variation in weight gain among all of the mice. Some showed little to no change while others increased their body fat by over "600 percent." Therefore, scientists contributed this variation to genetic influences.

If people consume a high-fat diet, the response will be predominantly determined by genetics," Dr. Lusis said. "But whether you choose to eat a high-fat diet in the first place is largely environmental."

Eleven genetic loci associated with obesity and fat storage were identified, several of which were "linked to obesity in humans." It was found that some mice had higher fat burning mechanisms, thus eliminating more calories, while others had greater propensities to be more physically active. Data from this study can greatly contribute to targeting more efficient weight loss treatments and pharmacology in the near future. In addition, researchers hope to also study more specifically "brown fat" which is metabolically responsible for creating heat and burning caloric intake. While it is certain that what one consumes and how one utilizes those calories (through exercise or inactivity) has a significant effect on fat loss and storage, it is also now inferred that obesity can be highly inheritable and pre-existent in one's genome.

[For more on this article, check out the following links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/fat-genes-obesity-ucla-study-diet-exercise_n_2450108.html & http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/what-mice-can-tell-us-about-obesity-and-genetics/ ]