In one of the largest epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to date, published in The Lancet, scientists have identified a new epigenetic mechanism that may play a role in mediating some of the harmful effects of becoming overweight, such as diabetes.
In this study, Professor Nilesh Samani, British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester, UK and colleagues looked at epigenetic changes in DNA in relation to body mass index (BMI), a widely used measure of obesity. One particular type of epigenetic change, a process known as DNA methylation, was examined. DNA methylation involves specific locations along the DNA called cytosine bases, which are modified by the addition of methyl chemical groups.
Read the full, original story: Scientists discover epigenetic mechanism that could affect risk of obesity-related disease
