This work contains a summary of the current genetic, epigenetic and metagenomic knowledge of obesity, as well as an extensive overview of current genetic approaches in mouse models of obesity. Lastly, this work presents a candidate gene approach based on mouse models, which finds new variants associated with multiple obesity phenotypes in a multi-ethnic cohort. / The prevalence of obesity has been mainly be attributed to the rise in an obesogenic environment, in which individuals are more prone to high-dense energy foods and live a sedimentary lifestyle. Familial aggregation of obesity however, has led to numerous studies focused on understanding the genetic basis of this complex disorder. To this effect, this thesis summarizes the current knowledge of obesity genetics, including the monogenic, polygenic and epigenetics field. Given the tremendous contribution of animal models, especially mouse models, to our current knowledge of obesity genetics, this thesis summarizes the methodology of genetic studies in mice, and focuses on how the synergy between human and mouse studies has led to not only the discovery of obesity causal genes, but also their biological contribution to obesity. Lastly, this thesis summarizes a candidate gene approach based on the information from mouse models that have led to identification of a novel variant associated with body mass index (BMI), hip circumference and body adiposity index (BAI) in a multi-ethnic cohort. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Obesity is a heritable disease, and the genetic basis of obesity could result in better prevention and treatment options for this disorder. Obesity patterns are not uniform worldwide, and some ethnic groups are more prone to obesity than others, therefore having a multi-ethnic approach in studying obesity could yield to causal variants that could be generalized to all.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/18665 |
| Date | 17 December 2015 |
| Creators | Yazdi, Fereshteh |
| Contributors | Meyre, David, Epidemiology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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