A quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 6q influences birth weight in two independent family studies

• Published in: Human molecular genetics 2006-05, Vol.15 (10), p.1569-1579
• Main Authors: Arya, Rector, Demerath, Ellen, Jenkinson, Christopher P., Göring, Harald H.H., Puppala, Sobha, Farook, Vidya, Fowler, Sharon, Schneider, Jennifer, Granato, Richard, Resendez, Roy G., Dyer, Thomas D., Cole, Shelley A., Almasy, Laura, Comuzzie, Anthony G., Siervogel, Roger M., Bradshaw, Benjamin, DeFronzo, Ralph A., MacCluer, Jean, Stern, Michael P., Towne, Bradford, Blangero, John, Duggirala, Ravindranath
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight - genetics; Chromosomes, Human - genetics; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 - genetics; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Linkage; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Methods, theories and miscellaneous; Mexican Americans; Molecular and cellular biology; Quantitative Trait Loci
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddl076

Low birth weight is an important cause of infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Birth weight has been shown to be inversely correlated with adult complex diseases such as obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the genetic factors influencing variation in birth weight and its association with diseases that occur in later life. We, therefore, have performed a genome-wide search to identify genes that influence birth weight in Mexican-Americans using the data from the San Antonio Family Birth Weight Study participants (n=840). Heritability of birth weight was estimated as 72.0±8.4% (P