GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN FETAL GROWTH

胎儿生长代表着一个基本的生物学参数 所有哺乳动物物种。在人类物种中，分布 胎儿发育假设了一个更大的公共卫生维度 重要，因为它最有可能定义婴儿出生的频率 在婴儿期死亡--宫内发育迟缓(IUGR) 宝贝。尽管胎儿发育作为一种主要的 婴儿期和幼儿期健康的决定因素，我们 我们对改变生物多样性的内在因素知之甚少 胎儿生长发育在人群中的分布。特别是，我们缺乏 清楚了解遗传因素对胎儿的影响 人类的成长，以及母体和 环境变量制约着基因的增长潜力 胎儿。本研究旨在开展第一个全面的 遗传、母体和母体间相互作用的研究 影响胎儿分布的环境因素 整个定义好的美国人口的增长--犹他州。 首先，将为以下对象创建链接的犹他州出生记录的数据库 1940年间出生的大约318,814名活产和死婴- 55人(父母队列)和大约581,447名新生儿 在1970-85年间。每个队列中的记录链接将形成 父母兄弟姐妹关系和子女兄弟姐妹关系，同时记录链接 在队列之间将形成核心家庭和表亲集合。我们 预计将形成约10万个核心家庭 记录(其中近30,000份将完成复制) 还有20万套表亲套装。 其次，将对该数据库进行分析，以： A)评估各种环境和人口因素的影响 伴随着胎儿的成长。 B)确定胎儿生长受限对死亡率的影响。 C)确定遗传、母体和 环境因素对胎儿生长发育影响的通径分析和 偏析分析。 D)检验关于母体致病机制的假设 对胎儿生长发育的影响，并评估自然 因胎儿生长发育而选择。

Fetal growth represents a fundamental biological parameter for all mammalian species. In the human species, the distribution of fetal growth assumes an added dimension of great public health importance because it defines the frequency of babies most likely to die during infancy - the intra uterine growth retarded (IUGR) baby. Despite the importance of fetal growth as a primary determinant of health during infancy and early childhood, we known very little about the intrinsic factors that modify the distribution of fetal growth in populations. In particular, we lack a clear understanding of how genetic factors influence fetal growth in Man, and the extent to which maternal and environmental variables constrain the genetic growth potential of the fetus. This study aims to carry out the first comprehensive investigation of the interactions between genetic, maternal and environmental factors which influence the distribution of fetal growth in an entire, defined, U.S. population -the state of Utah. First, a data base of linked Utah birth records will be created for the approximately 318,814 live and still births born between 1940- 55 (parental cohort) and the approximately 581,447 births born between 1970-85. Record linking within each cohort will form parental sibships and offspring sibships, while record linking between cohorts will form nuclear families and cousin sets. We anticipate forming about 100,000 nuclear families with birth records (of which nearly 30,000 will have completed reproduction) and 200,000 cousin sets. Second, this data base will be analyzed to: a) evaluate the effect of various environmental and demographic concomitants on fetal growth. b) determine the impact of fetal growth constraints on mortality. c) identify the relative contribution of genetic, maternal and environmental factors on fetal growth using path analysis and segregation analysis. d) test hypotheses concerning the mechanism of maternal influences on fetal growth, and evaluate the magnitude of natural selection due to fetal growth.