Jim Wilson

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The Shetland Islands is the home of the famous Up Helly Aa Fire Festival celebrates Viking heritage, although studies have found that looking for the origins of the population are mixed

people with at least two grandparents who were born in the Orkney or Shetland for a genetics study on the improvement of health.

The research aims to the better understanding of the causes of diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer, and in turn find treatments.

This study will take part at the University of Edinburgh-led-Viking-II project is to complete an online questionnaire about your health and lifestyle.

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The Team believes that the "unique genetic identity" of people with Northern Isles ancestry offers a "rare opportunity", a detailed picture of how the genes are involved in the health.

lead researcher Prof Jim Wilson said 4,000 people would be invited to participate.

The study is limited to those who currently live in Orkney or Shetland, so many descendants scattered across The World .

It is believed that a significant number of people of the Northern Islands descent living in areas such as Saskatchewan in Canada, Chicago, America, and Dunedin in New Zealand .

Prof Jim Wilson - in the image at work in the Orkney cemetery, believes The Project will lead to a better understanding of the

Professor Wilson said: "the addition of More Than 4,000 volunteers from these special populations to increase the scope and impact of our research in the genetics of health and disease.

"We hope that in the long term, this brings us a better understanding is the basis for new approaches to the treatment or prevention of diseases. "

'Better care'

The saliva test by mail to be sent And Then analysed by researchers, including the genetic sequencing purposes.

working with the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian, clinical genetics physicians Prof Zosia Miedzybrodzka and Dr. John Dean , holding clinics in Shetland and Orkney for More Than 20 years.

Prof Miedzybrodzka said: "a Better understanding of the genetics of the Northern Isles leads to better health care in the long term, both directly to the inhabitants of the island, but also around The World ."

researchers believe that isolated communities offer unique opportunities for scientific study

For those who live in the UK, the volunteer part of the study, you can choose to have information on a limited genetic results returned to them by the NHS.

It is believed that this information could be useful in terms of your future in health care, including preventive actions to reduce the impact of health conditions.

The study is supported by the Medical Research Council.

people can participate, by registering your interest.

shetland, genetics, university of aberdeen, chicago, saskatchewan, orkney, university of edinburgh

Source of news: bbc.com