Portrait of George Louis Wolff (Gerd Ludwig Wolff) holding a mouse in his genetics laboratory; Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology

Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10−8), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ~2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

Group portrait at the farewell banquet for Dr. William Antopol from the laboratory staff of Mount Sinai Hospital; Ken's Chop House, New York city Portraits Groups

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Portrait of William and Charlotte Engel Levison Portraits Couples

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Dr. William Levison working at a desk Portraits Men

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Portrait of Dr. William Levison Portraits Men

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Portrait of Dr. William Levison in military uniform Portraits Men

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Group US Army military portrait including Dr. William Levison (top row, third from left); Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Portraits Groups Men

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Dr. William Levison (seated, far left) with other U.S. Army medial doctors and nurses with Christmas Tree in background Portraits Groups

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Portrait of Dr. William Levison smoking a corn pipe Portraits Men

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William Niclas standing next to the Oder River Portraits Men

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William Niclas (far left) next to Herr Richards and an unidentified man and woman; Ratibor, Poland Portraits Men

Handwritten on verso: Mormons, Ratibor

Contact sheet of portraits of George Victor Wolff Portraits; Men

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Portrait of George Louis Wolff (Gerd Ludwig Wolff) holding a mouse in his genetics laboratory; Little Rock, Arkansas.

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