title: Is GAD2 on chromosome 10p12 a potential candidate gene for morbid obesity?
abstract: Morbidly obese individuals represent one of the fastest growing subpopulations of obese individuals. Thus, it is of significant interest to broaden our understanding of the potential genetic causes of this public health concern. A recent study investigated a role of positional candidate gene GAD2 (the gene for glutamic acid decarboxylase) in the development of morbid obesity. This commentary carefully examines the genetic and functional arguments for and against the GAD2 gene as an influential gene for obesity. Also discussed are additional research questions that merit inquiry when further evaluating this genetic variant as a putative contributor to human obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Section on Statistical Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294, USA. htiwari@UAB.edu
authors.forename: Hemant K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérusse
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase