Dorret Boomsma, Professor in the Department of Biological Psychology at Vrije University, Amsterdam, commented: ""These findings illustrate that genetic research can help resolve the complex chain of causality underlying the association between early life course and later health outcomes.""

Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin, Paediatrician and Professor in Lifecourse Epidemiology at Imperial College London and one of the leaders of the research, said: "We have, for nearly two decades, tried to discover the factors which may explain why smaller fetal size associates with so many later life chronic conditions such as heart disease. We have known for a long time that fetal growth is genetically influenced on the basis of family and other population studies but the question has been where these markers are hiding? Also our own studies have demonstrated that a number of environmental factors influence fetal growth and that some fetuses are more vulnerable to those than the others. I believe that our genetic landmark discoveries will give us opportunity to answer these puzzling questions in the near future."

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: "This research adds exciting further evidence supporting the idea that low birth weight and Type 2 diabetes are linked in some cases and will no doubt provide important clues about the development of Type 2 diabetes in the future. It is another excellent example of the importance of genetic studies in helping us understand complex scientific issues and hopefully produce new methods to prevent conditions like Type 2 diabetes developing."

Source: Wellcome Trust