Our previous study [13] has indicated that colonic ontogenesis in obese diabetic db/db mice displays CRC-like characteristics, namely, proliferation and de-differentiation of epithelial colonocytes and goblet cells, driven by increase in the expression and transcriptional activities of colonic hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF-4α) and β-catenin/Tcf. The gene discussed is HNF4A; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.