Your Genes and Birth Control

An assistant professor from the University of Colorado School of Medicine wrote an article about your genes may effect how well your birth control works. Nicole Wetsman covered the article in Popular Science. The first study the professor did, he found that some gene variants metabolize a common hormone in birth control much faster causing the concentration to be reduced and not work as well. The scientists and doctors sequenced 14 genes and found that those with a variance in the gene CYP3A7 had 23% lower concentration of etonogestrel which mimics progesterone. Though when using the implant there was still enough of the hormone to prevent pregnancy due to how high the concentration in the implant is. They determined that if someone using a pill which has a significantly lower amount of etonogestrel, missed a single pill could lead to a pregnancy much easier. Though due to how the gene uses the hormones another person who misses one pill it could have no affect at all. The study has a lot more research to be done, but it can lead to less negativity when a woman gets pregnant and says that she used her birth control correctly.

This is a good study for all women to be looking at if they are considering using birth control. The study points out that all birth control is different and it is a trial and error type situation but if you were to find out that you have the variation in that specific gene, you would know to choose the implant or a birth control with higher amount of etonogestrel. They will continue to study all types of birth control so that eventually, you could be told which will work best for you. I think this is great because not only will it help prevent unplanned pregnancies but it will also help eliminate the side effects that can be experienced.

Gene Associated With Higher Risk of MS

MS is a pretty big deal for people who have it because it is an autoimmune disorder which attacks the patient's nerve cells. It primarily is found in women aged from 20-50 years of age and could cause problems with their movements and bodily function. There is no cure, however treatments are available.
Researchers are currently putting more study into two particular genes, IL7R and DDX39B, which they claim that if one has variations of these two genes then it they could be up to 3 times more likely to get MS than one who does not. When there are two variations of these genes, then an overproduction of a protein called sIL7R is created, however the entire function of this protein is not entirely understood.
Overall, it's a step towards finding more effective treatments or possibly a cure.

 Article
More Info About MS

 

Having a Big Belly Can be Associated with Developing Type 2 Diabetes

A gene called KLF14 is one of many genes associated with the risk of women developing type 2 diabetes.  This gene declares where women store fat in their bodies and is only expressed in those fat cells.  Some women with this gene have slimmer hips while others have wider hips (pear shaped).  Studies have shown that women with larger hips tend to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.  Wider hips are the more ideal trait in a woman possessing this gene because of the way fat is distributed throughout her body, especially in her midsection.

Obesity is a key risk of type 2 diabetes but the way fat is distributed throughout one’s body also has a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.  People who carry weight around their waist are particularly at risk for diabetes and heart disease.  Studies done by international researchers give more insight as to how the KLF14 gene works.  It appears to regulate hundreds of other genes active in fat cells as well as change the structure and function of those fat cell genes.  These findings suggest that women with narrower hips are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the way belly fat is distributed around their midsection.  Belly fat would protrude more in a woman with narrower hips.  She would hold more fat in her belly area.  Many would think that diabetes is only associated with a defective pancreas and the cells with in it, but KLF14 is only expressed in fat cells of the body. 

It is very intriguing that the way fat is distributed on a woman is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  Many of the people in my family are diabetic, especially the women.  Looking at it now, the traits I described above are what some of the diabetic women in my family possess; thin, slender hips, and a large mid-section.  Good diets and exercise regimens could prevent other women in my family from developing type 2 diabetes.

To read more click here  and here

Genes Help Set Menopause Timing

     This article explained how genes can have an impact on the timing of menopause. These genetic variations will play a role in predicting what age a women will go through menopause. Menopause usually occurs in women aged anywhere from 45-50. But, you also have a small percentage who go through premature menopause or other individuals who had a procedure done that stopped themselves from producing eggs. This is the period when a women stops menstruating which is the end of their reproductive period.
     In the new study, researchers from 177 institutions worldwide analyzed the DNA of about 70,00 women of European ancestry. They found more than 50 genetic variations inlcuding 18 previously discovered ones that seem to be linked to the age a women reaches menopause (Dotinga, 2015).  They stated that the primary reason to women losing eggs, which leads to menopause was because of damage to the DNA within those eggs. As more research develops and more genes are discover in the process the scientists will have a better idea on when a women enters menopause. The most interesting thing about this article to me was them mentioning that a better understanding of the genes in the future can actually lead to ways of delaying menopause and increasing reproductive life in women.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/09/28/genes-help-set-menopause-timing-study

http://www.reproductivefacts.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/News_and_Publications/Journals_and_Newsletters/Menopausal_Medicine/2011/MenMed_0511.pdf

Diagnostic Testing Radiation May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

After a study (known as GENE-RAD-RISK) was conducted in Europe, it was found that radiation exposure from diagnostic tests (such as chest x-rays or mammograms) before age 30 increases the risk of breast cancer; however, the risk is only increased (by about five percent) in women who have abnormal or mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.  The BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene two) genes are responsible for normal breast cell damage repair and growth.  These mutated/abnormal genes may be more sensitive to radiation exposure than fully functioning BRCA genes because of the already debilitated DNA repairer they have.  The best way for females under 30 years of age to be screened would be with an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).



Although I am not completely surprised that radiation would increase the breast cancer risk, I was interested to find out that the dosage of radiation through diagnostic tests are at lower levels than the doses that increase the risks of other cancers agitated by radiation.  Before reading about this, I was unaware of the fact that everyone has BRCA genes, but it is only the mutated or abnormal ones that actually cause breast cancer.  It's a shame that such screenings as mammograms and chest x-rays could help induce breast cancer when a woman is getting the test done in the first place to ensure she does not have the cancer already.  Since the GENE-RAD-RISK study provides that MRI's have not been known to increase the risk, I would begin recommending this procedure to women I know that need to get a screening done.

Being nice or nasty is in women's genes

A Scottish research suggests that being nice or being nasty is in your genes - particularly if you're a woman.
The study of almost 1,000 pairs of identical and non-identical twins, conducted by psychologist Gary Lewis and colleagues at Edinburgh University, has found that genetic factors appeared to affect how likely someone was to do charitable deeds or work hard in their job.

However, the experts also said the environment in which we live still plays a part in how nice we are, meaning we cannot just blame our genes if we're feeling a bit nasty.
Twins make good research subjects because, in the case of identical twins, they have the same genetic make-up.

Comparing them to non-identical twins, whose genes vary, allows researchers to look at what impact genetics has in certain situations compared to other factors such as the environment in which they live.



Twins make good research subjects because, in the case of identical twins, they have the same genetic make-up. Comparing them to non-identical twins, whose genes vary, allows researchers to look at what impact genetics has in certain situations compared to other factors such as the environment in which they live.

For women, this general prosocial personality had about half of its influence generated by genetic factors and the other half by environmental factors. But for men the genetic influences were much more modest, with about 20 per cent of the influence genetic and the rest appeared to be environmental.
Researchers said genetic factors were not the only influences on people's personalities and levels of niceness.
But what these results suggest is that genes are important as well, but it certainly isn't saying that the environment isn't a considerable factor also.

So it is saying genes are there in some sense - it is not the critical factor, but it is by no means a trivial factor, but much more so in women than in men. The study has been published in the journal Biology Letter . I actually would believe that genes control your personality, and moods.  Of course in girls, for some reason sensitivity to certain topics is stronger than men.  Perhaps the gene in men is mutated so that there sensitivity levels are much less.