Scientists find genetic link to obesity
Experts say the gene could be
partially responsible for as many
as five percent of obesity cases
Ali Shaughnessy
Environment/Science/Technology Reporter
Researchers have found a link be
tween obesity and the melanocortin 4
receptor, which is related to the pro
duction of protein that helps stimulate
appetite in the brain’s hunger-regulat
ing area, according to a report in the
New England Journal of Medicine.
“The MG4 gene is the most com
mon genetic cause of severe obesity
known,” Dr. Roger Gone of the Vollum
Institute at Oregon Health and Science
University said. “It’s responsible for up
to five percent of cases of obesity. ”
Gone’s lab originally discovered in
1997 that a circuit exists in the brain
that acts to regulate food intake. The
circuit is controlled by the MG4 and
MG3 — melanocortin 3 receptor —
genes. When a mutation occurs with
these genes, a person can have prob
lems with binge eating, obesity or
weight loss.
“Basically, if you disrupt the
melanocortin circuit in any way, you
end up with an obesity syndrome,”
Gone said.
A study done by researchers in
Switzerland, Germany and New York
looked at 469 severely obese adults
and their melanocortin gene.
The scientists also collected detailed
information on body fat, resting ener
gy expenditure and eating behavior.
“Obesity, a multifactorial disease
caused by the interaction of genetic
factors with the environment, is large
ly polygenic,” Dr. Ruth Branson of the
Hirslanden Clinic said in the report.
Of the 469 adults who participat
ed in the study, 24 people — or five
percent of the total—possessed mu
tations in MC4 and all were found to
be binge eaters. The study also found
that only 14 percent of the remain
ing 445 participants without the mu
tated gene were found to be binge
eaters. The average age of the partici
pants was 41 years.
“Binge eating is a major phenotyp
ic characteristic of subjects with a
mutation in MC4, a candidate gene
for the control of eating behavior,”
Branson and her coauthors conclud
ed in the report.
Dangers of obesity
» High blood pressure,
hypertension
. ■ Type 2 diabetes
- Glucose intolerance
« Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
■ Stroke
■ Some types of cancer (such
as breast, prostate and colon)
» Complications of pregnancy
• Psychological disorders
SOURCE: National Institutes of Health
Another recent research report
from England came to a similar con
clusion, saying “mutations in the
melanocortin 4 receptor gene repre
sented the most common (single
gene) cause of human obesity.”
Obese individuals are at an in
creased risk for physical ailments, in
cluding high blood pressure, type 2 di
abetes, coronary heart disease and
complications of pregnancy, according
to the National Institutes of Health.
Scientists are continuing the re
search and are working to develop
drugs that will correct the imbalance
and prevent obesity and binge eating.
Contact the reporter
atalishaughnessy@dailyemerald.com.
Suicide
continued from page 1
Ojo attended Thursday’s memori
al service, held at Eugene’s Orchard
Point Park.
“He maintained exemplary social
interactions with people,” Ojo said of
the personal testimonies given at the
gathering. “From the little I know
about Kyle, he had an amicable per
sonality and excellent human rela
tions. May his gentle soul rest in per
fect peace.”
Richmond was born on May 4,
1983, in Long Beach, Calif., to
Gary and Cynthia Dalton Rich
mond. He moved to the area in
1987 and lived in Springfield be
fore moving to Junction City. He
graduated from Junction City High
School in 2001, and he attended
the University of Maine and the
University of Oregon.
Campus buzz
Wednesday
"The Play of the Narrative: The Autobiogra
phy in Dance Performance" (discussion by
Sherrie Barr, part of the Brown Bag Lunch
Series sponsored by the Center for the
Study of Women in Society), noon-1 p.m.,
330 Hendricks, free, 346-5015.
"Straight Heroes with Queer Inclinations:
Male Film Stars in the Swedish 1930s" (talk
by Louise Wallenberg, a visiting Fulbright
professor from Stockholm University), 3:30
p.m., EMU Rogue Room, free, 346-4051.
'"Black and White: United and Fight?' Race
and Labor in Modern America" (lecture by
historian Robert Zieger, sponsored by the La
bor Education and Research Center), 4 p.m.,
Gerlinger Alumni Lounge, free, 346-5054.
"Conversation about adult mental health
services in Lane County" (forum sponsored
by the Lane County Mental Health Advisory
Committee and the Department of Health
and Human Services), 5:30-730 p.m., Lane
County Mental Health building, 2411 Cen
tennial Blvd., free (pizza provided), 682-3814.
Central javanese court gamelan (inaugural
concert by the University School of Music's
Indonesian orchestra, directed by Professor
Joko Purwanto, explanatory narration by
Mark Levy), 8 p.m., Beall Hall, $5, $3,346-5678.
16637
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Richmond’s interests included
snow skiing, traveling and shopping,
and he especially enjoyed spending
time with friends and family.
Survivors include his mother
and stepfather, Barry Schweigert,
of Junction City; his father, of
r
Springfield; two sisters, Shelbi
Whiddon of Springfield and Helena
of Salem; three brothers, Allen of
Hawaii, Chris of Naples, Fla., and
Lynn, currently of Iraq; and his
grandparents, Kathy Dalton of Eu
gene and Lyle and Dale Richmond
of Springfield.
Memorial contributions can be
made to the Children’s Miracle
Network.
Contact the reporter
at caronalarab@dailyemerald.com.
016519
Multicultural Center’s Dr. Coli
man Conference Series
1UG6U
“Th« ability to roach unity
tha baauty and tha test of
UO and MCC would like to thank: Ethnic
Studies, Women’s Studies, and History
Dept’s, Kultura Pilipinas, Residence Hall
Association, FUSION, LGBTQA, Prof. Carrillo,
Senate, Students for Peace, OSCC, Student
Life, Dir. of Student Activities, SOA Watch:
Eugene, CISCAP, UO Amnesty Int’l, Newman
Center, St. Jude, Survival Center, Justice Not
War Coalition, Faith in Action, Oregon
PeaceWorks, Progressive Responses,
Japanese Student Org., Pan Hellenic Council
and Intra Fraternity Council.
In diversity will be
our civilization.”
- Gandhi
DEMOCRACY
j DIVERSITY
Robert Zieger
4-6pm
WEDNESDAY Gerlinger Lounge
Dylan Rodriguez of UC Riverside
“Prison Industrial Complex and
Communities of Color."
2pm. lecture, Knight Library
6pm. reception and talk, MCC
Socially Conscious Hip Hop with Blue
r ,Vi Scholar, Isangmahal, Good Sista/Bad
Sista and La Paz
4pm, EMU Ampitheater
Pilipina, mixed heritage, queer media
activist and performance artist
Margarita Alcantara-Tan.
6pm, EMU Fir Room
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