The Skinny Gene | Suite101.com

Barbara Pytel, Paulline Larson Photography

Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Sep 28, 2007

Lucky

I've watched friends eat all day long and stay thin. I, on the other hand, must watch every little thing I put into my mouth. Finally, scientists have discovered what I've suspected all along--there is a "skinny gene." The journal, Cell Metabolism, published on Sept. 4th states that scientists have discovered such a gene.

Yale

Actually, a student at Yale University, Winifred Doane discovered a gene in fruit flies that she named "adipose" over 50 years ago. Dr. Jonathan Graff, associate professor of developmental biology and internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said, "We all have it. It's very striking." Graff also states, "In times of plenty, these super skinny, sleek and fast flies can easily get away from predators. But in times of shortage, they don't make it." [msnbc.msn.com, Linda Carroll, September 4, 2007]

Mom Knew

As a child, I asked my mother why our family had weight problems and others didn't. She would proudly answer with stories of war torn Poland naming who survived the camps and who didn't. She once said that the thin people starved to death. Metabolisms were too high--they required more food. However, the heavier people seemed to make it through the war better without much food." To raise my self-esteem (in the era of Twiggy), mom added, "Girls with some meat on their bones were picked first for wives because they wouldn't leave their husbands widowed with small children in the lean years." While it didn't do much for my self-esteem, I guess mom knew what she was talking about.