Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Obesity and diabetes genes are associated with being born small for gestational age: results from the Auckland

Angharad R Morgan1, John M D Thompson, Rinki Murphy

  • 1Discipline of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. ang.morgan@auckland.ac.nz

BMC Medical Genetics
|August 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Genetic factors influence being born small for gestational age (SGA), increasing risks for obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study identified specific gene variations linked to SGA, highlighting the interplay of genetics and environment.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Developmental Biology
  • Metabolic Disease Research

Background:

  • Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) face higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases later in life.
  • While environmental factors are known contributors to SGA, a significant genetic component is suspected in many cases.
  • Established environmental risk factors for SGA include maternal smoking, low pre-pregnancy weight, and hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between SGA and genetic polymorphisms previously linked to obesity and/or diabetes.
  • To explore the genetic underpinnings of SGA beyond known environmental influences.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 54 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 546 participants from the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative (ABC) study.
  • Comparison of genetic variations between 227 children born SGA and 319 children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA).

Main Results:

  • Genetic variations in KCNJ11, BDNF, PFKP, PTER, and SEC16B were significantly associated with SGA.
  • These findings indicate a higher prevalence of genetic factors related to obesity and type 2 diabetes in SGA individuals compared to AGA individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic factors play a significant role in SGA, complementing previously identified environmental influences.
  • The interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors is crucial in determining birth weight and long-term health outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies14:56

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
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...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...