Hum Genet (2009) 126:375–384 DOI 10.1007/s00439-009-0681-2ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION Common polymorphic variation in the genetically diverse African insulin gene and its association with size at birth

© The Author(s) 2009. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract The insulin variable number of tandem repeats (INS VNTR) has been variably associated with size at birth in non-African populations. Small size at birth is a major determinant of neonatal mortality, so the INS VNTR may inXuence survival. We tested the hypothesis, therefore, that genetic variation around the INS VNTR in a rural Gambian population, who experience seasonal variation in nutrition and subsequently birth weight, may be associated with foe-tal and early growth. Six polymorphisms Xanking the INS VNTR were genotyped in over 2,500 people. SigniWcant associations were detected between the maternally inher-ited SNP 27 (rs689) allele and birth length [eVect size 17.5 (5.2–29.8) mm; P = 0.004; n = 361]. SigniWcant associa-tions were also found between the maternally inherite