Hearts Gene Has Been Identified, The Gene That Can Reveal Heart Functions: Study

The heart is known to be the most important muscle of the body. Mostly one's heart works the same as everybody else's. A new study found that one's heart function is genetic.  

A worldwide research was conducted that includes data from 73,518 individuals. Researchers use this data to test and compare their subject's ECG readings of the heart. Experts later identified that each heart has an abnormality in muscle mass and pulse conduction.  

Senior Lecturer in Human Genetics Dr. Jamshidi said: "this allowed us to discover 52 regions where 67 genes are located, which we now think are involved in the functioning of the cardiac muscle." He also said that this research led them to discover that the genes found in the heart play a major role on how the heart functions. For as far as they know the genes only causes serious cardiac disease, as reported by Medical Daily.

The challenge now for the researchers is to figure out the significant role of each gene and how it functions to the heart. They experimented with the use of fruit fly to get the results. Experts switched the genes of the fruit fly on and off. They found that if the gene of the fruit fly was switched off the fly does not develop a heart. They also found another gene that controls the cardiac muscle that if they switch it off the heart cell of the fly dispersed randomly.

Dr. Jamshidi explained that "The research could form the basis for many new research projects and ultimately lead to better treatment for heart problems. The results of this research have been compiled into a genetic library to enable novel heart function research by us and other groups."

However, the research is not yet perfect and would take them ten more years, Dr. Jamshidi and his team are hoping that by looking at these genes can link certain genes to the risk of heart problems in the future. This would allow doctors to use other person's genetic make-up to foresee whether they have the risk of heart failure and for the experts to develop preventative measures, according to Medical Xpress.