Mapping diabetes

Gene mapping is a scientific technique that helps in understanding associations between mutations in genes and their impact on one’s predisposition to lifestyle diseases like diabetes. Dr Amol Raut elaborates.

Genetics has come a long way, since the early times of Gregor Mendel (Father of genetics), when he studied inheritance traits in organisms. Genetics today is not merely known as a field of biology, but is strongly associated with several aspects of life sciences and the study of information systems. Genetics has evolved and advanced to such an extent that it has provided solutions to problems like hunger, high mortality rate due to dreadful diseases and so on.

Similarly, gene mapping is one such process in the field of genetics, that provides answers to association of genes with disorders, which are hereditary in nature. It has been observed that though genes in all individuals code for similar function in the human body, there are variations seen in these functions in all humans. One reason for such variations is the minor changes seen in the information coded by the genes in different individuals.

Mutations
These changes in the information are referred to as variations or mutations in the genes. Gene mapping, hence, is a critical process which helps us understand and study variations/mutations in genes to find out reasons and probable solutions to evade complications it can cause in the near future. Genetic mutations combined with suitable extrinsic factors (not related to body, but external factors) are responsible for diabetes in individuals. Gene mapping is the best process available today to learn about the genes that are responsible and associated with diabetes in individuals.

Gene mapping helps in understanding associations between mutations in genes and their impact on the predisposition of an individual to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. For example, if a person’s DNA carries such genes with variations associated with diabetes, then certain lifestyle factors, such as imbalanced diet or sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of an individual to such diseases. As we know, diabetes affects the way human body metabolises sugar.

The D factor
In diabetes, either the person has high blood sugar level due to lack of insulin secretion by pancreas or the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. Many of the symptoms are governed by variations or mutations in genes associated with the disorder.

According to experts, the general notion is that Type II diabetes generally hits individuals in their mid-40s and 50s, but the scenario is now changing.

In India, this disease has also been diagnosed amongst individuals in the age group of 25-30 years. Nearly 60 percent of diabetics in India have never been screened or diagnosed due to lack of awareness, according to a 2012 report published by the Brussels-based International Diabetes Federation, an umbrella organisation of diabetes associations in 160 countries. The study said nearly 63 percent did not even know about the complications that arose from the disease.

Diabetes is one of the greatest concerns of this decade when it comes to lifestyle
disorders. India has seen a great change over the last few decades and this change has reflected on social, economic and individual levels. A drastic change in lifestyle has invited many lifestyle-related disorders like diabetes, arthritis, asthma, obesity and heart disease. In 2013, India had more than 70 million people suffering from diabetes. According to reports, by 2030, India will have 100 million people with diabetes.

Gene talk
Gene mapping is one of the suggested processes available today to learn about the genes that are responsible and associated with diabetes. Gene mapping can also determine other genes, which are associated with diabetes directly and indirectly. Some of the genes could help in deciding the right kind of diet for the person, while some genes decide the right kind of medication that works better and also helps in analysing the immune system of the individual. Gene mapping can help in detection of mutation in genes that increase the risk of diabetes, despite age and sex.

Another factor which plays a vital role in diabetes is a person’s immune system. A person with certain issues in immune system functioning, such as inflammation risk, is at a higher risk of having the disease. Hence, through the analysis of genes of his/her immune system, a suitable solution can be provided. The real advantage lies in realising and recognising the challenge at an early stage, so that the person can anticipate the risk well in advance and avoid it by taking necessary preventive measures.

Solutions for the individual can also be worked upon - like prescribing a diet containing low carbohydrate and low fat content. This, coupled with a suitable exercise regime and medication, depending on his/her genetic makeup, will keep things in check. The most important benefit of gene mapping is that a person can understand his/her predisposition to such diseases well in advance and modify his lifestyle as per feasible suggestions by nutrigenomic and diet experts.

Although the risk for diabetes has been ever-growing, there are solutions available; and gene mapping helps in understanding this and thus, minimising the risk to a large extent.

(The author is Head, R&D, Gene­Support and GeneOmbio Technologies Pvt. Ltd)