Progress in defining the genetic contribution to type 2 diabetes susceptibility

Candidate gene, genome-wide association, exome array and sequencing studies have identified more than 140 loci associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility. In this review, progress in understanding the genetic architecture of T2D susceptibility across diverse populations and in localising potential causal variants for the disease through fine-mapping studies is discussed. The additional insights gained from these genetic studies into novel molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology underlying T2D susceptibility are described, and the prospects for future genomic investigations of the disease are considered.