Mutation blocks fat absorption.

LIPID metabolism disorders; PROTEIN metabolism disorders; MUTATION (Biology); ZEBRA danio; OBESITY; FARBER, Steven

The article reports that a newly discovered gene in zebrafish seems to prevent the animals from absorbing fat molecules from their diets. Steven Farber, of the Carnegie Institution, identified a "fat-free" gene located on the fish's chromosome 10 which prevented the fish from absorbing lipids in dietary fat. Injections of a normal version of the gene allowed the affected fish to process lipids, suggesting similar techniques could be used to treat obesity in humans.