Genes identified as significantly changed in response to obesity by RNA-seq (FDR < 0.05) were validated in a larger number of samples, all from independent litters, by qPCR (Fig. 2) and results were confirmed in eight out of the nine genes in E19 male placentae (i.e., Pi15, Gabrd, Sez6l, Nup210, Acta2, Rnf222, Muc15, and Cnn1). This evidence concerns the gene ACTA2 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.