Family history may influence inflammatory bowel disease development, according to a study in Nature Genetics.
The researchers used data from the Genetics, Environmental, Microbial Project, an international study that collects data from health family members of patients with IBD. This data is used to investigate how genetics influence bacteria in the microbiome and gastrointestinal disease development.
Here are their findings:
1. Almost one-third of fecal bacterial taxa in the microbiome were heritable.
2. Four genes were associated with bacteria in the microbiome.
3. There were 58 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with relevant bacterial taxa, six of which were deemed significant.
The researchers concluded that genetics play a significant role in what bacteria inhabits an individual's microbiome, which may impact the development of various gastrointestinal disorders.