Mother and fetus genetic relation with birth weight

A recent research study published in Nature Genetics reported a novel approach, which has represented a complex relationship between a maternal and fetal genetic relationship with the birth of the newborn.

This is a large scale study and conducted with the help of collaboration of renowned International universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Queensland, and Exeter.

The researchers of this study identified one hundred and ninety links present between genetic code and birth weight.

Medical scientists have already recognized that low birth weight increases the risk of post-birth complications of the neonates.

In adulthood, such children have more prone to develop hypertension than individuals who have average birth weight.

Both genetics and environmental factor influence such risk.

These novel research findings help scientists to identify the distinct effect of mother’s genetics influence the birth weight of the child apart from the child’s own genetics.

This type of large complex research conduction is very important because both excessive low or high birth weight is one of the common cause of premature death of the child, and also increase the risk of development of metabolic diseases in future life.

Novel statistical methods have used for handling and calculating the large scale data to obtain the correct result.

The inherited genetic structure of a child is made up of half of the mother’s genes and half of the father’s gene.

The resulting genetic makeup builds the child’s own genetic structure, which has a direct relationship with the birth weight of the child.

This study has recognized that almost one-quarter of the genetic material from maternal genes did not contact the child’s genetic structure.

But they have an influence on baby’s growth during the gestational period.

These maternal genes control the baby’s environment during pregnancy, like the quantity of available glucose.

This study result also acknowledged that birth weight has a direct association with a certain genetic code of the baby and an indirect association with the maternal genetic code.

Both the genetic code obtained from the maternal and fetal source is worked together in the same direction or opposite each other’s effect.

The birth weight depends upon the nature of such maternal and fetal genetic functioning.

For example, if the genetic effect increases the maternal glucose levels, then the insulin level of the fetus increases, which helps to put on the weight of the baby.

But in case of genetic code reduces the fetal insulin synthesis or counteracting maternal growth-promoting influence, then fetal growth retardation occurs.

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Researchers of this study explained that this research finding helps to identify how and which maternal genetic code alter the environment of the womb.

The detection of possible factorial linking helps to modulate the causal factor to get the normal healthy birth weight of the neonate.

This prospect is promising for the future to reduce the incidence of low birth weight and its complications.

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