Scientists say a gene variation could contribute up to 155g to a child’s birth weight.
The gene studied is believed to act as a growth suppressor, reducing birth weight. But UK-based researchers found that a particular variant passed down from the mother can add 93g to birth weight, or 155g if passed down from the maternal grandmother.
Professor Gudrun Moore of University College London and his colleagues looked at a gene called PHLDA2 in nearly 9,500 DNA samples taken from mothers and their babies, collected in three separate studies.
Photo: AFP
照片：法新社
They found that a gene variant called RS1 appeared to change the way in which the gene functioned, leading to higher birth weights. “The gene is already known to have a profound effect on birth weight by acting as a growth suppressor,” Moore said.
The RS1 variation was found in around 13 percent of the individuals studied, with 87 percent possessing the RS2 variation. “We suggest that the more common RS2 gene variation, which is only found in humans, has evolved to produce a smaller baby as a protective effect to enhance the mother’s survival during childbirth,” said Moore.
(Liberty Times)
科學家說，一種基因的變異可能會讓兒童出生體重增加多達一百五十五公克。
研究針對的這種基因據信扮演生長抑制者的角色，會降低出生體重。但英國研究人員發現一種從母親遺傳的特別基因變異，可能讓出生體重增加九十三公克，從外婆遺傳的基因變異，可能讓出生體重增加一百五十五公克。
倫敦大學學院的摩爾教授與同僚，從取自母親與她們小孩的將近九千五百份DNA樣本中，研究一種稱為PHLDA2的基因。這些樣本取自於三份不同的研究。
摩爾教授說，他們發現一種稱為RS1的基因變異似乎會改變基因運作方式，導致出生體重增加，摩爾說：「這種基因已知會扮演生長抑制者的角色，對出生體重有深遠影響。」
研究的對象中，約百分之十三有RS1變異，百分之八十七有RS2變異，摩爾教授說：「我們認為，只有在人類體內發現的、較普遍的RS2基因變異，是演化產生的保護效果；它製造較小的嬰兒，加強母親生產時的存活率。」
（自由時報/翻譯：國際新聞中心）
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