In the past years, genomewide association studies (GWAS) indicated several genes, including FAM13A (4q22), HHIP (4q31), CHRNA3/5 (15q25), IREB2 (15q25), MYO1D (17q11), VWA8 (13q14) and BICD1 (12p11), were related to COPD susceptibility 29, 30, 31, 32. The gene discussed is IREB2; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.