Searching for type 2 diabetes genes in the post-genome era

The discovery of genes encoding maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a milestone in the study of the genetics of complex diseases. The genes 2 were revealed in large part, through positional cloning and linkage analysis in families. The genes ave relatively rare and have strong genotype-phenotype correlations. Based on the results of several genome scans for genes encoding T2DM in various racial-ethnic groups, it appears that, as in other complex diseases, Multiple genes are ir involved, each contributing a small amount to the overall risk. New strategies for patient sampling phenotyping, genotyping technologies and genetic analysis must be employed to further define the genetic basis of this disease.