Friday, November 20, 2009

Paper Chase: Discovery of fat gene in mice may help humans

"A 15-page research report suggests Stuart Little may one day want to toss his calorie counter. Mice apparently have a fat gene, that when deactivated, according to a study released this fall by the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, keeps rodents on high-fat diets thin...

Why it matters

Obesity and Type II diabetes are on the rise in America, and are a growing problem in children and adolescents. If a gene similarly linked to obesity is identified in humans, it could lead to the development of drugs to treat and prevent excessive weight gain and health problems associated with it.

The same research team is searching for molecules that may be able to block the gene's activity.

Which offers the possibility of guiltless consumption of bon-bons."

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