Gene that Lets You Eat as Much as You Want Holds Promise against Obesity (AUDIO)
Caption
It sounds too good to be true, but a novel approach that might allow you to eat as much fatty foods as you want without gaining weight could be a reality in the near future. When a single gene known as RCAN1 was removed in mice and they were fed a high fat diet, they failed to gain weight, even after gorging on high fat foods for prolonged periods. The international team behind the study are hopeful a similar approach that inhibits this gene will also be effective with humans to combat obesity and serious diseases like diabetes. Led by Professor Damien Keating at Flinders University, the study used a huge genetic screen in rodents to identify novel genetic candidates that may cause obesity, potentially paving the way for new drug therapies.
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Professor Damien Keating, Flinders University
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