Gauderman Presents Gene and Asthma Data
November 18, 2008 11:14 AM
James Gauderman of the Keck School of Medicine of USC presented findings, along with representatives of 12 other research groups, on genome-wide scans for cardiovascular or respiratory traits at a National Heart Lung and Blood Institute meeting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 29-30.
Gauderman’s group, which includes Frank Gilliland, David Van den Berg, David Conti and Duncan Thomas of the Keck School, is conducting a genome-wide scan for genes related to childhood asthma and lung development, studying more than 3,000 children.
The group used its genetic data to demonstrate that there is a wide range of genetic ancestry within those Southern California children who self identify themselves as Hispanic, Gauderman said, noting that most have a mixture of Native American and Caucasian ancestry. It also showed that rates of asthma vary according to genetic ancestry, with significantly higher asthma rates in Hispanics that have a greater proportion of Caucasian ancestry. Understanding the genetic ancestry of the group’s sample is critical before conducting a scan for disease genes.
The Keck researchers are about midway through their project, he said.
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