Iranian Journal of Diabetes and Obesity

Objective: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a complex disease is the result of genetically heterogeneous factors and environmental issues interaction. Linkage and small-scale candidate gene studies were successful in identification of genetic susceptibilities of monogenic form of diseases. However, they were largely unsuccessful while applying to the more common forms of disease. By designing Genome Wide Association studies (GWAs), the new windows open to genetic approaches. So far, around 153 variant were discovered for T2D and missing rare variants are waiting to be discovered. The new findings are beneficial to explain molecular signaling and pathways responsible for pathophysiology of T2D, which offered opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic and preventive tactics. The GWAs findings need to be confirmed in on going researches. In this review, we address, genetic susceptibilities related to T2D since 2007. Also challenge advantages and disadvantages of GWAs and discuss about the next confirmatory approaches need to be done.