Thursday 17 May 2012
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Faulty gene link to peanut allergy
Faulty gene link to peanut allergy
Scientists have found a gene they believe is behind the cause of allergies to peanuts.
Children who suffer from a faulty Filaggrin gene are three times more likely to develop an allergy to the nut, researchers at Dundee University found.
It is the first time that a genetic change has been linked to the allergy, Dr Sara Brown from the university said.
The researchers found that one in five of all sufferers of such allergies had a defective Filaggrin.
The number of people suffering from such an allergy has soared since the 1980s.
The findings come after the team found that the Filaggrin gene was also a significant factor in eczema and asthma.
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