UT Southwestern Professor Identifies Gene Linked to Appetite Control

Using a powerful tool called Automated Meiotic Mapping (AMM), scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a gene that plays a critical role in regulating food intake—offering new hope in the fight against obesity.

Published in Science, the study reveals a previously unknown signaling pathway within tiny, antenna-like structures on brain neurons that help control appetite. This opens new doors for anti-obesity treatments notes Dr. Zhao Zhang, lead researcher and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern’s Center for the Genetics of Host Defense. The discovery could pave the way for more targeted and effective therapies for a condition affecting over 40% of U.S. adults.

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