Monday, March 13, 2006
Nature and Nurture in Disease
globeandmail.com : Code 2
The article above is immensely important for understanding the combined importance of genetics, behavior and environment in determining whether we get diseases. Genes play a role in almost every disease, but researchers are finding that we have at least some control over whether those genes are switched on and off.
It turns out that what we do, where we do it, and who notices has a big impact on our genetic expression. For instance, I'm always trying to set a good example for my daughters with what I eat. They see me downing plates of vegetables, and they now regularly want to share those plates with me--flax seed oil and all. One might say, well, they just want to be like Daddy. Yes, but their genes may also be adapting to want those foods. In other words, watching the behavior could switch on a pro-vegetable genetic makeup.
The study of epigenetics is hugely fascinating to me. What if there is a permanent switch that will turn on the desire to exercise gene, and all we have to do is make it a part of our daily routine? How long would it take? How will that gene expression be passed on to the next generation?
It's a little scary to think that we have so much control, and it may make us somewhat obsessed with responsibility that could itself prove unhealthy. But if our genes are constantly adapting to the habits we form, we can count on small changes eventually adding up to big gains. And that's pretty exciting for knowing what to do to help prevent any disease. Digg This!
The article above is immensely important for understanding the combined importance of genetics, behavior and environment in determining whether we get diseases. Genes play a role in almost every disease, but researchers are finding that we have at least some control over whether those genes are switched on and off.
It turns out that what we do, where we do it, and who notices has a big impact on our genetic expression. For instance, I'm always trying to set a good example for my daughters with what I eat. They see me downing plates of vegetables, and they now regularly want to share those plates with me--flax seed oil and all. One might say, well, they just want to be like Daddy. Yes, but their genes may also be adapting to want those foods. In other words, watching the behavior could switch on a pro-vegetable genetic makeup.
The study of epigenetics is hugely fascinating to me. What if there is a permanent switch that will turn on the desire to exercise gene, and all we have to do is make it a part of our daily routine? How long would it take? How will that gene expression be passed on to the next generation?
It's a little scary to think that we have so much control, and it may make us somewhat obsessed with responsibility that could itself prove unhealthy. But if our genes are constantly adapting to the habits we form, we can count on small changes eventually adding up to big gains. And that's pretty exciting for knowing what to do to help prevent any disease. Digg This!
