Characterising the factors that influence SCD expression or activity, such as liver X receptor (LXR)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and/or cholesterol [68, 69], will help us define new strategies to overcome beta cell dedifferentiation, dysfunction and death in type 2 diabetes. The gene discussed is SREBF1; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.