“Genetic Predisposition to Type II Diabetes in the Hispanic Population in Relation to SNP rs7901346 on the TCF7L2 Gene”

Abstract

The number of people living with Diabetes today is estimated to be around 100 million within the United States. From those 100 million, the ethnic category that is the third highest in Type II Diabetes is the Hispanic Population that is at 12.1% in comparison to American Indians/Alaska Natives who are 15.1%. This disease has been found to have a genetical predisposition and has become a leading cause of death in the United States in the Hispanic population. Since there is a diverse genetic variation between different ethnicities, scientists study genes through SNPs which are single nucleotide polymorphisms, in order to locate a specific gene that is associated with a disease. Recent studies with SNP 7901346 have shown that the gene TCF7L2 has been associated with Type II Diabetes. These risk alleles increase TCF7L2 gene expression in the pancreatic B‐cell which causes a reduction in insulin which therefore leaves the patient vulnerable to obtain diabetes. Hence, the goal of this research project is to find a prevalence of SNP 7901346 in a Hispanic population of the south of California. DNA extraction from buccal samples were done followed by PCR and confirmed by gel electrophoresis. SSP1 Restriction enzyme was used to identify both variants. The data shows the C allele was found dominant in both groups: patients and controls. The allele T was found it in one diabetic patient. It is too early to make a conclusion for the association of this SNP and its relation to Diabetes type 2 in the Hispanic population. Further research must be done increasing the sample to improve our results.