Scientists Discover Thinness Gene (IMAGE)

IMBA- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

Scientists Discover Thinness Gene

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Why some people eat as much as they want and stay lean while others can't. In mice, genetic deletion of ALK resulted in thin animals with marked resistance to diet induced obesity while food intake was not changed. The researchers found that ALK in the hypothalamus controls energy expenditure via sympathetic control of adipose tissue lipolysis. The drawing illustrates how our genetic make-up determines body weight (gain).

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