A BRISTOL research study has been involved in the discovery of 16 genetic areas connected with allergies.
Bristol University's Children of the 90s project was involved in two of the largest studies ever conducted on common allergies, including pollen, dust mite and cat allergies.
The 16 genetic locations are responsible for at least 25 per cent of allergy in the population, according to the research, published in journal Nature Genetics, with eight of the genetic variations having previously been associated with asthma.
The first study, undertaken by the Early Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology research cohort (Eagle), which includes Children of the 90s, involved almost 32,000 individuals from 16 studies worldwide.
It compared allergy sufferers with non-allergy sufferers.
Ten of the genetic locations were associated with self-reported allergy symptoms in an independent companion study of 53,000 individuals conducted by 23andMe, the American personal genetics company, and Children of the 90s.
Professor John Henderson from Children of the 90s, who was involved in the Eagle study, said: "Allergy is an important component of many diseases, including asthma, eczema and hay fever, which together account for a huge burden on patients and the health services. This is a very exciting time for allergy research. Genetic discoveries have identified specific pathways of allergy development that are not shared with allergic diseases like asthma."