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Related Concept Videos

Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Incomplete Dominance01:43

Incomplete Dominance

Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.
Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...

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Polygenic obesity in humans.

Anke Hinney1, Johannes Hebebrand

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. anke.hinney@uni-due.de

Obesity Facts
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Obesity

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular genetics
  • Obesity research
  • Human genetics

Background:

  • Major genes for obesity are rare and of limited clinical importance.
  • Obesity is primarily polygenic, influenced by multiple genetic variants.
  • Identifying polygenic variants requires statistical analysis to detect increased frequency in obese individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the identification and significance of polygenic variants in obesity.
  • To highlight key genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity.
  • To discuss the role of specific genes like MC4R, INSIG2, and FTO in obesity development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of molecular genetic data.
  • Statistical validation of gene variants (alleles) in obese versus non-obese subjects.
  • Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses.

Main Results:

  • The Val103Ile single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) was the first confirmed polygenic variant influencing BMI.
  • A SNP near the insulin-induced gene 2 (INSIG2) was initially associated with obesity, though findings require further validation.
  • Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 1 of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) demonstrate the most significant polygenic effect on obesity, particularly in early-onset cases.

Conclusions:

  • Polygenic variants, rather than rare major genes, are crucial for understanding obesity predisposition.
  • Genes such as FTO play a substantial role in obesity, especially in early-onset forms.
  • Ongoing research and meta-analyses are vital for validating the impact of specific polymorphisms on body weight regulation.