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Method That Identifies High Cholesterol Gene
Scientists from Rosetta Inpharmatics, LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co have announced that they have constructed a method that identifies the elusive genes involved in such complex diseases.
Using a mouse model system for human diseases, scientists have used this method to identify a gene called Insig2, which is directly involved in the control of blood cholesterol levels.
This gene has been demonstrably linked with the causes of obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis in mice.
"Using this new method we have identified a gene involved with high blood cholesterol in mice, and we fully expect the human equivalent to be just as significant," said Eric Schadt, of Rosetta Inpharmatics.
"This opens new doors in the potential treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease in humans," he added.
This method is also directly applicable to many other diseases in human beings, said the study.
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