'Fat Gene' Discovery Could Help Fight Flab [View all]

[The Straight Story]

Scientists have discovered an obesity gene in mice which may explain why some people are more prone to weight gain than others.

Mice bred without the gene - dubbed IRX3 - were found to be almost a third lighter than rodents with the gene.

An equivalent gene exists in humans, and geneticists argue that targeting it with drugs may help doctors control obesity in the future.

The research has been carried out by geneticists at the University of Chicago. The team's findings were published in the journal Nature.

"Our data strongly suggests that IRX3 controls body mass and regulates body composition," said geneticist Marcelo Nobrego.

http://news.sky.com/story/1224975/fat-gene-discovery-could-help-fight-flab