ABSTRACT
Identification of genetic modifiers may provide a powerful tool for defining biological pathways that lead from the primary genetic defect to the disease phenotype. Those modifiers that suppress weight gain or progression to non-insulin-dependent diabetes may lead to new therapeutictargets. Whereas much work has been done on the environmental influences, e.g., diet or exercise on development of obesity and type II diabetes, the role of genetic modifiers is gaining prominence. A major stumbling block for the identification of genetic modifiers of obesity and type II diabetes in humans will be the difficulty of mapping nonallelic mahogany and mahoganoid loci in the face of the huge genetic heterogeneity in the human population. The elucidation of modifier genes associated with attenuation of obesity and prevention of progression to type II diabetes may lead to exploration of new therapeutics aimed at increasing the activity of modifiers in ejected patients.
