City scientists reveal genes breakthrough

GENES which can influence low birth weight have been discovered by researchers in Edinburgh.

Extremely high or low birth weight babies are at much higher risk of dying in infancy, while low birth weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and higher blood pressure later in life.

To better understand the association between low birth weight and these problems, a study of 38,000 individuals was carried out, led by Dr Jim Wilson of the University of Edinburgh, as well as departments at universities in Oxford and London.

Analysis found two genes which influence birth weight, one of which was also a risk factor for diabetes. If a baby carries these two genes, it means it will have the same risk of low birth weight as if the mother had smoked five cigarettes a day in pregnancy.

The study also found that genes which control weight at birth have no influence on adult body mass index (BMI) – showing that birth weight and BMI are largely governed by different processes.

Dr Wilson said: "Finding two gene variants that decrease birth weight is the first exciting step to unravelling the well known associations between birth weight and killer diseases in later life."