Apparently many folks get Sleep Apnea after they have had their kids,
which means they have already passed this deadly gene on to their
progeny. Anyone know of any genetic studies on OSA? This lethal
gene will remain in the population because it doesn't express itself until
after it has been transferred to our kids.
Genetics and OSA
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Dave Hargett
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To the best of my knowledge, no gene has been identified that causes sleep apnea. What we inherit is our general body structure (narrow airway, deviated septums, large tongues, no necks, etc., which makes us more prone to sleep apnea.
Research has shown a definite association of apnea in families, but I don't believe that any gene has been identified. For most of us apnea is something related to our physical structure and that structure may be something different in each and every person.
The onset of symptoms is pretty gradual too, and that is one reason that we see many cases of apnea in the age decades of the 30's and 40's.
Research has shown a definite association of apnea in families, but I don't believe that any gene has been identified. For most of us apnea is something related to our physical structure and that structure may be something different in each and every person.
The onset of symptoms is pretty gradual too, and that is one reason that we see many cases of apnea in the age decades of the 30's and 40's.
Gnetics and osa
The question of genetics role in sleep apnea is that it is an indirect connection.
Darwinian selection favors the survival of those traits that allow the fittest to survive.
There is some unintended consequenses of a great survival strategy. This is the genes that allow for fat to be stored will survive those in time of starvation and famine. In our present environment this simply makes us get more obese.
Since OSA is much higher in obese people, it is an unfortunate problem that served our ancestors well. It saved them, but kills us.
Tomjax
Darwinian selection favors the survival of those traits that allow the fittest to survive.
There is some unintended consequenses of a great survival strategy. This is the genes that allow for fat to be stored will survive those in time of starvation and famine. In our present environment this simply makes us get more obese.
Since OSA is much higher in obese people, it is an unfortunate problem that served our ancestors well. It saved them, but kills us.
Tomjax
Ah, but keep in mind, there's still some debate over which is the chicken and which is the egg in that particular pairing.
Does being obese make you more prone to apnea, or does having apnea make you more tired, less active, more prone to obesity.
Or (most likely) is there a sort of "death spiral" snake feeding upon itself?
Liam, who wonders why a snake feeding on itself is a great mythical figure, but a man feeding upon HIMSELF is called "The Hedgehog"?
Does being obese make you more prone to apnea, or does having apnea make you more tired, less active, more prone to obesity.
Or (most likely) is there a sort of "death spiral" snake feeding upon itself?
Liam, who wonders why a snake feeding on itself is a great mythical figure, but a man feeding upon HIMSELF is called "The Hedgehog"?
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no chicken and egg question here
The conditions that permitted us to be obese came long ago, so it was the obesity that had as an unintended consequense the development of apnea.
If the situation was reversed and those who did not store fat somehow survived and passed the genes down, then we would have more skinny people. Unfortunately, those who survived to pass down the genes were thos who stored fat.
Your observation may be valid in a place without either of these influences, but not in the real world of darwinian pressures.
If the situation was reversed and those who did not store fat somehow survived and passed the genes down, then we would have more skinny people. Unfortunately, those who survived to pass down the genes were thos who stored fat.
Your observation may be valid in a place without either of these influences, but not in the real world of darwinian pressures.
Genetics or infection or both?
Very few 'genetic' diseases are solely one gene. Even then, there is usually merely a genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as diet and exposure to pathogens, chemicals, etc. will affect the expression and severity of the disease.
So far no candidate genes have been discovered.
OSA can be turned on and off by a variety of circumstances: industrial dusts, toxoplasmosa gondii, organ transplants. These would tend to lessen the belief that a set of genes is at work.
The most likely candidate genes would be in the HIF-alpha area and the cascade of hormonal/genetic reactions that hypoxia induces coupled with the effects on the carotid bodies that are the primary sensors for micro-second oxygen fluctuation.
So far no candidate genes have been discovered.
OSA can be turned on and off by a variety of circumstances: industrial dusts, toxoplasmosa gondii, organ transplants. These would tend to lessen the belief that a set of genes is at work.
The most likely candidate genes would be in the HIF-alpha area and the cascade of hormonal/genetic reactions that hypoxia induces coupled with the effects on the carotid bodies that are the primary sensors for micro-second oxygen fluctuation.
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