METHODS FOR DETECTING GENES ASSOCIATED WITH BONE PROPERTIES, HEIGHT, AND/OR BODY MASS PROPERTIES

摘要

Disclosed are methods for detecting the presence in a subject of a polymorphism linked to a gene associated with one or more bone properties, such as spine bone mineral density, hip bone mineral density, wrist bone mineral density, spine bone size, hip bone size, and wrist bone size. The method includes analyzing at least a portion of the subject's genome and detecting the presence of a polymorphism which is located in or near various specified regions of the subject's genome and which is linked to the gene associated with the bone property of interest. The presence of the polymorphism is indicative of the subject having or being susceptible to having aberrant bone properties. Also disclosed are methods for detecting the presence in a subject of a polymorphism linked to a gene associates with height or with one or more body mass properties, such as body mass index, percentage fat mass, fat mass, and lean mass. The methods can be used, for example, to screen for a subject's having or being susceptible to conditions such as osteoporosis and obesity.