In 1998, the deCODE company received a monopoly on the genetic profile of the citizens of Iceland and since then it has been conducting various genetic studies. The Icelandic genetic profile is unique in that it has hardly changed since the Viking days
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It is possible that the gene responsible for the tendency to obesity has been found
By Yuval Dror
A group of Icelandic researchers claim to have succeeded in isolating a gene, different versions of which determine whether the person carrying it will tend to be fat or thin. As part of the study, the deCODE researchers examined the genetic profile of a thousand Icelandic women. "Obesity and thinness are two sides of the same coin," the researchers said. At this stage, detailed results of the study have not yet been published.
Scientists from around the world have been testing for many years the claim that a tendency to obesity is in some way related to the genes carried by humans. Data from the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that 15% of children aged 6-19 are overweight.
In 1998, the deCODE company received a monopoly on the genetic profile of the citizens of Iceland and since then it has been conducting various genetic studies. The Icelandic genetic profile is unique in that it has hardly changed since the Viking days. The researchers claim that the discovery of the gene and its role advances the research towards the development of drugs and preparations that could help people suffering from obesity.
Icelandic researchers discovered a gene involved in causing stroke * a variant of the gene increases the risk 3 to 5 times
By Nicholas Wade New York Times
Researchers in Iceland say they have discovered for the first time a gene involved in common forms of stroke. The researchers, from Reykjavik-based Genetics "Decode" company, say that people with a certain version of the gene are three to five times more likely to have a stroke. According to them, this is the same or even greater risk than known risks that contribute to the tendency to stroke - such as hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking.
Dr. Kari Stephenson, the company's CEO, said the new gene produces an enzyme that serves as a convenient target for drugs. According to him, the Swiss pharmaceutical company "Roche" is already conducting experiments on several such drugs on mice.
The garden was identified by a team led by Dr. Solveig Gertarsdottir. The gene has not previously been linked to stroke, and its discovery may lead to new insights into the mechanisms associated with the disease. The study, which was reported on the 22nd of the month in the journal Nature Genetics, is "extremely significant in terms of stroke treatment," said Dr. Jonathan Rosend, an expert in the field at Massachusetts General Hospital. However, according to Rosend, the research will not lead to new treatments for the disease in the near future, as the findings must be confirmed through other studies, which will be conducted in other populations.
According to Stefanson, "Decode Genetics" identified 15 genes involved in 12 common diseases and mapped the general location of 20 additional genes on the human genome. All were identified following research in the Icelandic population, which is particularly suitable for genetic studies because of its detailed genealogical records and the country's uniform healthcare system. Some of these genes have also been identified in other populations.
There are diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, which are caused by mutations in a certain gene and are relatively rare. Common diseases such as stroke, diabetes and cancer are reportedly accelerated by several different genes working together. Because each of the genes contributing to these multigenic diseases has little effect, it is difficult to trace them in the family lineage. Identifying such genes was supposed to be one of the main fruits of the Human Genome Project, but so far only a handful of such genes have been identified.
Rosand said that "Decod" enjoys several advantages, including the use of very sophisticated technology and the genetic history of the Icelandic population, which guarantees that many patients with a certain disease will inherit the same genetic version from a single ancestor in the distant past.
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