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IDENTIFICATION OF A MARKER FOR THE TYPE II DIABETES Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder that affects the metablism of fat, carbohydrate and protein. This disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. One to 2% of the adult population suffer from the type II DM. The onset of Type II DM (non-insulin-dependent DM; adult onset DM) is over 30 years of age and this disease is associated with obesity, and normal or increased blood insulin. The patients do not have islet antibodies and ketoacidosis rarely occurs in this disease. On the other hand, the prevalence of type I diabetes is variable and occurs in 0.25% of individuals by age 20 years. On the other hand, type I diabetes (insulin-dependent DM; juvenile onset DM, ketosis prone DM) is associated with normal weight, decreased blood insulin, formation of islet cell antibodies and commonly ketoacidosis. Type 2 diabetes is a genetically heterogeneous disease and it seems that genetic factors are implicated in the susceptibility to this disease. However, the number of genes involved, their chromosomal location and the magnitude of their effect on susceptibility to type II DM are currently unknown. In the June issue of Nature Genetics, Hanis et al report identification of a major suceptibility locus on chromosome 2. One marker, D2S125, showed significant evidence of linkage to type II DM. It is hoped that finding this marker will streamline identification of the gene(s) that are implicated in the susceptibility to type II DM. References:
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