LAMA5 Gene Variations Affect Obesity In Women Of African And European Descent, Says Study

Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 23:35 in Biology & Nature

A study of 228 women has revealed genetic variants responsible for body shape, according to research published in BMC Genetics. Based on work in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the study identifies natural variation in the human LAMA5 gene as a key determinant of weight. As the prevalence of obesity and related health problems continues to increase worldwide, there is considerable effort being devoted to identify genetic mechanisms that control fat storage. Maria De Luca led a team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, who identified candidate genes using different strains of Drosophila. Read More...

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