FMH, there is a fat gene?

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kiryan
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FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby kiryan » Mon May 16, 2011 4:17 pm

So I don't know what this means other than they have a promising area of research that may lead to genetic treatments for obesity.

I suppose I should give a little more credence to the genetic argument some people blame their obesity on. However, I'd like to say it still doesn't really explain why the obesity epididemic is localized to specific countries, but I didn't expect them to find a fat gene either.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110515/hl_ ... 50aXN0c2Zp

Scientists find "master switch" gene for obesity

They then confirmed their findings in 600 fat samples from a separate group of people from Iceland.

In a report of their study, the researchers explained that other genes found to be controlled by KLF14 are linked to a range of metabolic traits, including body mass index, obesity, cholesterol, insulin and glucose levels.

"KLF14 seems to act as a master switch controlling processes that connect changes in the behavior of subcutaneous fat to disturbances in muscle and liver that contribute to diabetes and other conditions," said Mark McCarthy from Britain's Oxford University, who also worked on the study.
Sarvis
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Re: FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby Sarvis » Mon May 16, 2011 6:41 pm

kiryan wrote:I'd like to say it still doesn't really explain why the obesity epididemic is localized to specific countries,


Does it surprise you that everyone in Japan has black hair?


That said, I think there's a LOT of reasons for our obesity epidemic... a big portion of which is the food industry doing everything they can to make chemically produced, unhealthy, highly processed food so much more available than anything that's actually healthy.
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kiryan
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Re: FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby kiryan » Mon May 16, 2011 10:16 pm

No, but It would surprise me to find a "genetic master key" "responsible" for 30% of the japanese population to growing blond hair over a period of 30 years.
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Re: FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby Sarvis » Mon May 16, 2011 10:29 pm

kiryan wrote:No, but It would surprise me to find a "genetic master key" "responsible" for 30% of the japanese population to growing blond hair over a period of 30 years.


Not what you said. You were surprised that a genetic trait could be localized to specific countries. It's actually pretty much exactly how genetic traits work though.

Further, if the genetic trait causes more obesity because you metabolize something differently then it would make perfect sense for it to only become apparent in certain countries. After all, not everyone makes 90% of their food with variations of corn...
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Kindi
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Re: FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby Kindi » Tue May 17, 2011 2:41 am

"certain human populations have a mutation on chromosome 2 which eliminates the shutdown in lactase production, making it possible for members of these populations to continue consumption of fresh milk and other dairy products throughout their lives without difficulty. This appears to be an evolutionarily recent adaptation to dairy consumption"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_in ... e_by_group
Teflor Lyorian
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Re: FMH, there is a fat gene?

Postby Teflor Lyorian » Tue May 17, 2011 5:28 am

Kindi wrote:"certain human populations have a mutation on chromosome 2 which eliminates the shutdown in lactase production, making it possible for members of these populations to continue consumption of fresh milk and other dairy products throughout their lives without difficulty. This appears to be an evolutionarily recent adaptation to dairy consumption"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_in ... e_by_group

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