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Transmission ratio distortion at the INS-IGF2 VNTR

Nature Genetics volume 22, pages 324–325 (1999)Cite this article

Transmission ratio distortion (TRD) is defined as a statistically significant departure from mendelian transmission. So far, evidence of this in humans has been limited or controversial1,2,3,4, and the few established examples involve chromosome rearrangements in lower organisms5.

The variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism 596 bp 5´ of the insulin gene (INS) regulates expression of both INS and the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). The VNTR can be subdivided into two main allele sizes, class I and class III, in Europeans. Class III alleles are associated with reduced expression of INS and IGF2 in the pancreas and placenta6. As lower expression of VNTR class III-associated INS/IGF2 alleles early in fetal development may reduce the chances of survival in utero, the locus is considered a candidate for exhibiting TRD.

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Acknowledgements

We thank W. Cookson for Busselton family DNA samples; M. Schuerenkamp for technical assistance; and the Wellcome Trust, the British Diabetic Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Jubilee Fund of the Austrian National Bank, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Bildung und Technologie and the Italian Telethon for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2XY, UK

    Iain A. Eaves, Simon T. Bennett, Amanda J. Wilson & John A. Todd

  2. Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 62, Münster, D-48129, Germany

    Peter Forster & Bernd Brinkmann

  3. Institut für Diabetesforschung and Academic Teaching Hospital München-Schwabing, Munich, Germany

    Karin M. Ferber & Anette-G. Ziegler

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    David Ehrmann

  5. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Headington, OX3 7BN, Oxford, UK

    Sumit Bhattacharyya

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  1. Iain A. Eaves
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Correspondence to John A. Todd.

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Eaves, I., Bennett, S., Forster, P. et al. Transmission ratio distortion at the INS-IGF2 VNTR. Nat Genet 22, 324–325 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/11890

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