The selection was based on higher read counts across all stress conditions, with preliminary bioinformatic predictions indicating a potential regulation of a larger number of mammalian genes compared with other candidates, and enrichment of their predicted targets in signaling pathways directly implicated in obesity-related processes, such as insulin signaling, FoxO signaling, Wnt signaling, and lipid metabolism. This evidence concerns the gene INS and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.