Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
09:52
Generation of High Quality Chromatin Immunoprecipitation DNA Template for High-throughput Sequencing (ChIP-seq)
Published on: April 19, 2013
Type 2 diabetes: the genetic conflict hypothesis.
S Denic1, S Emerald, M G Nicholls
1College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, PO Box 17666, United Arab Emirates. s.denic@uaeu.ac.ae
Medical Hypotheses
|February 5, 2013
Summary
Genetic conflict between parental genes influences fetal growth and insulin resistance, explaining type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) risk factors like low birth weight and prevalence in certain populations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Human genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low birth weight is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).
- Epidemiological studies show a high prevalence of low birth weight in infants of fathers with DM2.
- Modern Arab populations exhibit an exceptionally high prevalence of DM2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a unifying hypothesis for DM2 risk factors based on genomic imprinting and parental conflict.
- To explain the epidemiological observations linking birth weight, paternal DM2, and population-level DM2 prevalence.
Main Methods:
- The study employs a theoretical approach, analyzing genetic conflict theory and genomic imprinting.
- It examines the role of pleiotropic genes influencing fetal growth and insulin resistance.
- Parental mating systems (polyandry vs. monandry) are considered in relation to genetic conflict intensity.
Main Results:
- Parental gene conflict, driven by differential expression of maternal and paternal genes, affects fetal growth and insulin resistance.
- Increased genetic conflict (e.g., in polyandrous systems) leads to larger birth weights.
- Reduced genetic conflict (e.g., in monandrous systems) is associated with smaller birth weights and potentially higher DM2 risk.
Conclusions:
- Parent-of-origin-biased expression of pleiotropic genes offers a potential explanation for the observed associations between birth weight, paternal DM2, and DM2 prevalence.
- Human mate selection practices, influencing genetic conflict levels, may contribute to DM2 risk and prevalence.
- This hypothesis integrates evolutionary genetics with metabolic disease epidemiology.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Type 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...
01:26Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...
01:24Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
01:22Diabetes 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...
01:12Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin resulting from the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Although it can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. The loss of insulin production impairs cellular glucose uptake, resulting in persistent hyperglycemia and necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.Autoimmune Destruction of β-CellsThe hallmark of type 1 diabetes is an...
01:20Pathophysiology 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 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...