Obesity genes: so close and yet so far.

Abstract

Little is known about genetic variants that predispose individuals toward leanness or fatness. This minireview highlights recent advances in the study of human populations, animal models and synergistic efforts as described by De Luca and colleagues in BMC Genetics, which are beginning to harvest low-hanging fruit in the search for obesity genes.

Figure 1

The Collaborative Cross for complex trait analysis. Starting with eight inbred mouse strains capturing 90% of all genetic variation in mice, a funnel breeding scheme is used to randomize variation. A single breeding funnel results in one immortal CC recombinant inbred line that is a mosaic combination of the eight founder genomes. The CC will consist of multiple independent lines (the target is 1,000), each of which will represent a different yet fixed capture of genetic variation. Figure courtesy of Fernando Pardo-Manuel de Villena and David Threadgill.