One small step for mice, one giant leap for GWAS?

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided a wealth of information on potential disease-associated genes in the human population. In particular, several loci have been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, due to the complexity of the disease, it has been a challenge to unravel the exact effects of specific loci on T2D pathogenesis. In this issue of the JCI, Keller and colleagues developed a systems genetic approach to identify insulin secretion-associated genes in nondiabetic mice followed by tissue-level and functional phenotyping. Several of the loci identified were syntenic with human T2D-related loci, indicating that this approach may be feasible for discerning genetic variation in nondiabetic individuals that may lead to the development of T2D.