Research on gene responsible for Vitiligo in Vadodara’s MSU

Vadodara, 7 December 2014

Rasheeda Begum, professor of Bio-Chemistry department of Science faculty of Vadodara based MS University has discovered DNA sequence responsible for vitiligo disease.

Sharing the details of her research, she said that Gujarat and Rajasthan witness highest cases of vitiligo in which some portion of skin becomes white. She said 8% people in Gujarat are suffering from this disease which is the highest proportion in any state in India. She said the main reason behind this disease is imbalance of Oxidant and antioxidant in body.

She said her team took genetic samples of 1500 people suffering from vitiligo. Of them 908 were ladies while others were gents.

Granted by Indian Council of Medical Research and Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission the research project has come to conclusion that person’s genetic factor is responsible for vitiligo.

She said this disease is mainly observed in 20-30 age group. More ladies suffer from this disease compared to gents.

She said, vitiligo are impacts are more social and emotional. There’s no treatment for it, but with research in its DNA sequence, there are better chances of developing medicines for its cure.