In a study of more than 2000 children, scientists from the University of Michigan and their European colleagues have found genetic markers strongly associated with the risk of childhood-onset asthma. Children with these markers had higher blood levels of a gene called ORMDL3, which is also true of children with asthma. The study suggests the disease associated form of the gene increases asthma risk by 60% to 70%. Although childhood asthma treatments now focus on allergic responses - since most children with asthma also have many allergies - researchers propose their discovery could lead to new asthma therapies, such as targeting the gene with drugs.

-Medical update, 2008