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A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging
Published on: July 14, 2016
Bone ageing: genetics versus environment
E Kobyliansky1, D Karasik, V Belkin
1Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. anatom14@post.tau.ac.il
Annals of Human Biology
|October 7, 2000
Summary
A major gene significantly influences bone mineral density (BMD) and bone aging, affecting baseline levels and changes over time. Genetic factors, not environmental, primarily drive population differences in bone aging rates.
Area of Science:
- Human genetics
- Osteology
- Biogerontology
Background:
- Bone aging is influenced by genetics and environment, with osseometric measurements (OSM), bone mineral density (BMD), and osseographic scores (OSS) as key indicators.
- Ethnic variations in bone aging necessitate further investigation into genetic and environmental components.
- Existing research on bone aging genetics primarily stems from BMD family studies, highlighting familial influences on bone mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the genetic and environmental factors influencing bone aging.
- To investigate the interaction between genetic and environmental components in bone aging.
- To identify the genetic basis of bone aging for potential applications in preventing bone diseases.
Main Methods:
- Segregation analysis in ethnically diverse pedigrees to assess major gene effects on BMD.
- Bivariate segregation analysis to evaluate pleiotropy of a single major gene on compact and cancellous BMD.
- Analysis of environmental vs. genetic influences on osseographic scores (OSS) variation across 32 human populations.
Main Results:
- A significant effect of a major gene on both compact and cancellous BMD was identified, supporting a single locus with pleiotropy.
- Evidence suggests a single major gene controls baseline BMD, age of onset for bone changes, and the rate of change in cortical index (CI).
- Genetic differences between populations substantially influenced the rate of bone change (r=0.480), with minimal environmental effect (r2=0.107) on OSS variation.
Conclusions:
- A single major gene plays a critical role in bone aging, influencing BMD and the dynamics of bone changes over time.
- Genetic factors are the primary drivers of population-level differences in bone aging rates.
- Understanding the genetic basis of bone aging is crucial for developing strategies against osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
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