Sajedah,

Many, if not most, human traits tend to be a consequence of an intricate play between a number of genes (products) and environmental factors. It is unlikely that there will be a single gene controlling "thinness". Being thin can be a results of a variety of reasons - eating less, parasites, malabsorption (common in poor countries with unclean drinking water) to name a few possibilities. Of course, at the level of physiology, there can be conditions that could lead to wasting, such hyperthyroidism.

One has to first identify the underlying cause why a child is underweight before thinking about gene therapy.  On the other hand, perhaps someone already treated with a gene for uncommon cleverness would provide you with a better answer.  ;)

For now, a practical solution for you is to send your thin patients to US; we seem to have something in the air that cures everyone's thinness!   ;)

So far I am not familiar with thin genes. But There are genes for obesity, called OB genes (as a short cut from obesity).

 Sajedah,

Many, if not most, human traits tend to be a consequence of an intricate play between a number of genes (products) and environmental factors. It is unlikely that there will be a single gene controlling "thinness". Being thin can be a results of a variety of reasons - eating less, parasites, malabsorption (common in poor countries with unclean drinking water) to name a few possibilities. Of course, at the level of physiology, there can be conditions that could lead to wasting, such hyperthyroidism.

One has to first identify the underlying cause why a child is underweight before thinking about gene therapy.  On the other hand, perhaps someone already treated with a gene for uncommon cleverness would provide you with a better answer.  ;)

For now, a practical solution for you is to send your thin patients to US; we seem to have something in the air that cures everyone's thinness!   ;)

There are are many claims to the so called "skinny genes", but there is a real paucity of scientific proof. One paper in Nature appears to confimr this..

Mirror extreme BMI phenotypes associated with gene dosage at the chromosome 16p11.2 locus by Sébastien Jacquemont.

How relevant this is to the general population is yet to be decipher

No doubt that heredity and genes play a role in the body that a person is likely to become obese is the order specified rules A, T, C and G is very important, it determines the order in all aspects of biodiversity. In this arrangement lies the genetic code Genetic code

Genetic engineering are looking at changing the genetic code to improve the genetic traits and eliminate the disease and to stimulate stem cells to mutate to organs such as the liver and pancreas

Jimmy,

While interesting, the work you mentioned deals with a region of chromosome that codes for a fairly large number of genes and deviations from normal levels of expression in this cluster of genes are associated with a variety of clinical issues, including neuro-developmental anomalies - there is far more than just the propensity to gain weight or remain abnormally thin when the expression levels are below or above normal levels.

Perhaps in time, specific roles of individual genes in this cluster will be whittled to reveal if there is really such a thing as a or a few genes that control "thinness".

I recall that decades ago, considerable effort was made to find a "thrifty" gene which Pima Indian may express differently than others to explain their propensity for obesity and developing diabetes...

discuss bioterrorism and biowarfare

l don't think so. Genetic counselling may be indicated in cases of enexplained underweight children.

Please take a look at this useful RG link.

Article Genetic architecture of human thinness compared to severe obesity