2011-08-01
Mechanisms behind obesity/diabetes
deciphered through new poultry studies
Caption: Through artificial selection two extreme chicken lines have been created at Virginia Tech, USA. Both chickens are eight weeks old. (Photo: Vincent J. Musi)
Scientists at SLU, Uppsala University and in the USA have collectively studied the genetic mechanisms that have made it possible for two chicken lines, with twelve times the difference in bodyweight, to be divergently selected in only 50 generations. This research gives new insight into the ways in which widespread diseases amongst humans and the important characteristics of food production are studied. The results were published in PLos Genetics on the 21st July.
For this study, scientists used data from a crossbreed of two chicken lines divergently selected for their high or respectively low bodyweight over fifty years. Today these heavy chickens weigh twelve times as much as the light ones at eight weeks of age.
Post-doctorate Mats Pettersson and Professor Örjan Carlborg, both from SLU’s Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics in Uppsala, have collaboratively explored gene interaction in detail.
In previous studies, scientists have shown that cooperative genes have been important to the growth of chickens. They have now taken a step further by reproducing the results in an independent population and showing that the interactions are even more complex.
’’These chicken lines reveal a big difference in more characteristics than bodyweight, such as appetite, obesity and the immune system. It is therefore an interesting model for trying to understand the biological effects of divergent selection and how these characteristics are regulated genetically’’, Örjan Carlborg said.
The new study can impact work with human diseases such as diabetes and obesity, as well as with food production.
Written by:
Mikael Propst