Study identifies 90 genes in fat that may contribute to dangerous diseases
Unlike many genetics studies, the huge project looked at how genes' activity actually manifests in human patients -- in this case, 770 Finnish men. The results will help doctors and scientists better understand how normal gene variations can affect individuals' health and risk for disease. "There are a lot of regions in our genomes that are associated with increased risk for, let's say, type 2 diabetes. But we don't always understand what's happening in these regions," said Mete Civelek, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. "This study actually addresses some of those questions." Gene Effects on Health The men used in the study have had their health histories, body composition, blood work and other wellness factors recorded in astoundingly complete detail -- Civelek called them "one of the very few extremely well characterized populations in the world." The precise documentation allowed the researchers to draw ...