Is IBD In Your Genes?

Researchers in the UK have discovered that a miscoded gene may be partly responsible for some people developing IBD. While still in the womb, this gene, which is part of the chemical reaction in the colon, is only "half" as active as it should be. Therefore, it is not producing as much of a certain protein as it should. The authors of the study conclude that this protein must be responsible for calming inflammation in the digestive tract, and having a faulty copy of the gene that codes for it could lead to developing IBD. The next step would be to test the effect this protein has on people with IBD.

Source:
The University of Edinburgh, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine. "Study sheds light on cause of Bowel Disease." 10 Dec 2008. 7 Jan 2009.