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Genetic Variation That Adds Weight to New Born Baby Identified

by Kathy Jones on Mar 26 2012 9:43 PM

 Genetic Variation That Adds Weight to New Born Baby Identified
Researchers from University College London have identified a genetic variation that could add up to 155 grams to the weight of a new born baby if the gene is passed on from the maternal grandmother.
Researchers led by Professor Gudrun Moore analyzed DNA samples of more than 9,500 mothers and babies and found a variation in the gene called PHLDA2 that added 93 grams to the weight of a new born if passed down from the mother or 155 grams if passed down from the maternal grandmother.

The researchers termed the variation as RS1 and said that it was present in 13 percent of the babies in the study sample.

Writing in the report published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, the researchers said, “We have found a genetic variant of PHLDA2 that when inherited from the mother, causes the baby to be 93gm bigger on average, or even 155gm bigger on average, if inherited successively from the mother’s mother.”



Source-Medindia


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