August 9, 2012, researchers in Australia and UK found that many genes may affect bone strength, and these genes may account for about 2000 in our body of 21000 genes. In a new study, the British Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute joined in a global action: to knock out every gene in the mouse genome, and each mouse can be knocked out one gene. In 100 knockout mice, the scientists identified 9 genes that appear to weaken or strengthen the bones.

Professor Peter Croucher in Garvan Institute of medical research From Sydney, Australia, Dr Duncan Bassett and Professor Graham Williams from London’s imperial Science Institute of Technology as well as scientists from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute cooperated, using micro CT, digital X-ray microradiography which were combined with statistical methods and load bearing experiment, to measure each of the first batch of 100 genes whether influenced bones. Their findings were published online in the Journal PLoS Genetics. Researchers had successfully identified 9 genes that had not been described before, and each gene appears to play an important role in the regulation of bones.

At present, researchers are trying to understand the potential role of these 9 genes. These findings suggest that, if some of them are able to be blocked, it may lead to increased bone strength and stronger bone strength.