Gene study can help spot lifestyle diseases

Hyderabad: Understanding genetic variations in lineages from ancient times can potentially lead to prevention of lifestyle diseases. Scientists say that studying the genetic makeup of generations of populations can help understand the evolutionary nature of lifestyle diseases. This can help identify specific markers in the genome because of which certain diseases like diabetes occur. This can then allow for prevention of such diseases.

Scientists also say that the populations in the Indian subcontinent are the best study groups for detecting genetic markers for diseases because of extensive inbreeding. “There is a lot of inbreeding in our populations with genetic traits being shared from other local groups. That’s why our populations are the best to understand the evolutionary nature of lifestyle diseases,” said Dr Vadlamudi Raghavendra Rao, professor of anthropology, Delhi University.

Genetic markers have already been identified for cardiovascular and other diseases. Scientists say these markers can be used to know if a person is predisposed to be affected by a disease. A person can take preventive action before the disease manifests.