An extended family
living in the American mid-west state of
lowa has helped scientists to find the first
gene that unequivocally causes heart attacks
in late middle age.
The family has an extensive history of
heart attacks with the risk highest at about
the age of 60. A heart attack becomes almost
inevitable in members of the family who
have inherited a defect in gene known to
be involved in the formation of blood vessels.
Eric Topol Cleveland Clinic Foundation
on Ohi said that although the genetic defect
has only been found in this family, its
discovery could lead to a better understanding
of heart attacks in the general population.
"This stands out because of its potential
impact. It's a great first step towards
understanding the basis of coronary artery
disease at its genetic studies that once
you get the first gene it starts to unlock
whole story".
Doctors eventually traced 26 closed family
members with heart problems. The researcher
took blood samples for DNA analysis in the
hope of finding a common genetic link to
the discover.
The study found that a region of chromosome
15 - one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes
in the human genome - contained a linkage
"hotspot" that was known from
previous studies to include a gene called
MEF2A. |
