November 23, 2016
With greater emphasis placed on the role of genetics with regard to human disease, behavior, traits and so forth, there is a tendency to overlook external factors that interact with the genome and have an impact on how genes are expressed and function. In How Our Environment Affects Our Genes, Michael White highlights that “our genes and our physical and social environment are tied up together.” Light to moderate drinking may reduce colon cancer risk; exercise helps those with a higher BMI risk; and Alzheimer’s risk increases for yet another group — all depending on the variations, alleles and mutations of particular genes. So, next time someone says “it’s all in my genes” you’ll know it’s only part of the story.