Largest Diabetes Study Finds Seven New Genetic Regions Linked to Type 2 Diabetes

A study conducted by investigators from the Oxford University's Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, along with others from 20 countries on four continents, collected DNA data from more than 48,000 patients of four different ethnic groups in what is now known to be the largest diabetes study yet.

Most of the DNA data was collected from populations with European backgrounds, but it also includes some from Asian and Hispanic populations. The researchers believe that the likelihood of mapping genes implicated in type 2 diabetes will increase as more data from South Asian ancestry as well as African descent become more available.

The study discovered seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes and will hopefully provide researchers with new medical information in regards to the origins of the disease. Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, Professor Mark McCarthy from the University of Oxford, is ecstatic about the findings and hopes to find more answers as the data is further analyzed.

"One of the striking features of these data is how much of the genetic variation that influences diabetes is shared between major ethnic groups," said Mr. McCarthy in this EurekAlert! article. "This has allowed us to combine data from more than 50 studies from across the globe to discover new genetic regions affecting risk of diabetes."

The two most revealing regions of the study are located near the genes ARL15 and RREB1. These regions show strong links to elevated levels of insulin and glucose in the body, which are two determinants of type 2 diabetes. The scientists believe that this finding will provide more information in regards to how basic biochemical processes are involved in the risk of the disease.

However, Dr. Andrew Morris, the principal investigator at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics expressed that the findings of this study are not limited to type 2 diabetes. He believes that the combining of such genetic data can help identify new DNA variants that may lead to heart disease and cancer.

To read more about this study, visit this EurekAlert! article.