Genetic regulation of physiological reproductive lifespan and female fertility
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Authors
McGrath, Isabelle M.
Mortlock, Sally
Montgomery, Grant W.
Issue Date
2021-03-04
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Reproductive Lifespan , Female Fertility , Genetic Variation , Menopause , Physiological Reproduction
Alternative Title
Abstract
There is substantial genetic variation for common traits associated with reproductive lifespan and for common diseases influencing female fertility. Progress in high-throughput sequencing and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have transformed our understanding of common genetic risk factors for complex traits and diseases influencing reproductive lifespan and fertility. The data emerging from GWAS demonstrate the utility of genetics to explain epidemiological observations, revealing shared biological pathways linking puberty timing, fertility, reproductive ageing and health outcomes. The observations also identify unique genetic risk factors specific to different reproductive diseases impacting on female fertility. Sequencing in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) have identified mutations in a large number of genes while GWAS have revealed shared genetic risk factors for POI and ovarian ageing. Studies on age at menopause implicate DNA damage/repair genes with implications for follicle health and ageing. In addition to the discovery of individual genes and pathways, the increasingly powerful studies on common genetic risk factors help interpret the underlying relationships and direction of causation in the regulation of reproductive lifespan, fertility and related traits.
Description
Citation
McGrath, I. M., Mortlock, S., & Montgomery, G. W. (2021). Genetic Regulation of Physiological Reproductive Lifespan and Female Fertility. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(5), 2556. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052556
Publisher
International Journal of Molecular Sciences