Worldwide genetic variability of the rs1861868 SNP in the FTO gene associated with obesity

Abstract

Introduction: genetic predisposition to obesity is linked to an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure, regulated by the nervous and endocrine systems. The FTO gene variants significantly impact obesity susceptibility in different populations. The objective of the research was to analyze the genetic variability of the SNP rs1861868 in the FTO gene and its association with obesity in various populations. Method: genotype data from 1000 Genomes and allele frequencies from ALFRED were analyzed. Moran’s I assessed spatial autocorrelation, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested using VCFtools, and ANOVA compared risk allele frequencies across continents. Results: Moran’s I indicated no significant spatial autocorrelation globally, but higher concentrations of the risk allele were observed in Europe. ANOVA showed significant differences in risk allele frequencies among continents, with Europe having the highest frequency. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed within macro populations but not globally. Conclusions: regional variations significantly impact the distribution of the rs1861868 (T) risk allele. Evolutionary, historical, and demographic are candidate factors that shaped the genetic landscape of the FTO gene related to obesity.