Article ViewAbstractThe Review of Diabetic Studies,2005,2,4,192-207.DOI:10.1900/RDS.2005.2.192Published:February 2006Type:Review Article Authors:Erik Biros, Margaret A Jordan, and Alan G Baxter Author(s) affiliations:Erik Biros, Margaret A. Jordan and Alan G. Baxter Comparative Genomics Centre, Molecular Sciences Building 21, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia. Abstract:The relative risk of type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes mellitus for a sibling of an affected patient is fifteen times that of the general population, indicating a strong genetic contribution to the disease. Yet, the incidence of diabetes in most Western communities has doubled every fifteen years since the Second World War - a rate of increase that can only possibly be explained by a major etiological effect of environment. Here, the authors provide a selective review of risk factors identified to date. Recent reports of linkage of type 1 diabetes to genes encoding pathogen pattern recognition molecules, such as toll-like receptors, are discussed, providing a testable hypothesis regarding a mechanism by which genetic and environmental influences on disease progress are integrated. Keywords:Environment, Genes, Type 1 diabetesView:PDF (576.88 KB) PDFClick here to download the PDF file. Images Genes Mediating Environment Interactions in Type 1 Diabetes ‹ Response to the Comment by D. Bresson and M. von Herrath up The Relationship between Dietary Habits, Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels among People without Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes; The ATTICA Study ›