Posted on February 24, 2009 in Latest News
Diabetes is the most wide spread disease at present which has a strong connection with obesity. Both diabetes and obesity have emerged as serious public health problem in the 21st century. A gene namely FTO is supposed to be the cause of obesity in humans. Studies have shown that the same gene is responsible for causing diabetes in humans.
What Is FTO?
FTO (Fat mass and obesity associated) is a gene present on human chromosome number 16 is responsible for certain variants correlated with obesity in human beings. Studies show that carriers of one copy of allele (2 copies of same gene) weigh 3kg more than non carriers of the genes. It is like people have more than 70% risk of being obese, if they possess this gene. It also sheds some light on the fact that this gene is also responsible for type2 diabetes. The carrier of this gene has his metabolic rates brought down and thus the sugar gets accumulated in the blood causing diabetes.
Scientific Observation
A group of scientists from a premier university took a group of mice and studied their BMI. The mice with the FTO gene were obese and remained less active. Then scientists knocked out (or inactivated) their FTO genes and the results were astonishing. Mice without the FTO genes functioning had rapid increase in calorie burning system inside the body and started thinning. And mice with well functioning FTO still gained weight. The FTO allele made the mice diabetic with Type2 diabetes. While non FTO mice were non diabetic and healthy.
Effect On Humans
It’s already proved that FTO is an obesity causing gene on humans. The new study shows the functioning of human brain metabolism to control hunger, signal digestion and calorie burning process. The functioning of genes unlock the interplay between the brain and the various metabolism related to FTO gene. This gene causes the human to be diabetic and burn less calorie inside the body, now scientists are finding out new ways to modulate the FTO activity.
We can hope for the day when scientists will unlock the secret of the FTO genes and new methods to prevent obesity related diabets will be invented.
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