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Genes vs. Environment

Genes vs. Environment. (Nature vs. Nurture). Is everything determined by genetics?. Your characteristics ( phenotype ) are often a combination of your genotype (genetics) and your environment . Both play an interactive role in determining your health. Examples…. 1. Sickle Cell Anemia.

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Genes vs. Environment

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  1. Genes vs. Environment (Nature vs. Nurture)

  2. Is everything determined by genetics? • Your characteristics (phenotype) are often a combination of your genotype (genetics) and your environment. • Both play an interactive role in determining your health. • Examples…

  3. 1. Sickle Cell Anemia SCA is a serious (sometimes deadly) genetic disease, but having SCA or being a carrier for SCA is an advantage against malaria (a communicable disease). *Recall that a single base change in the gene (DNA sequence) that codes for hemoglobin causes this. Hemoglobin will clump together inside red blood cells, giving them a sickle shape, which is more likely to clot.

  4. Sickle Cell Anemia • Sickle Cell is more common among African Americans. • Prognosis: patient can live normal life if treated • Sickle Cell is most common in parts of Africa, South and Central America. Why? • Higher incidence of malaria due to greater number of mosquitos carrying malaria parasite • Malaria parasite cannot live inside sickle cells.

  5. Malaria • Caused by a parasite passed into the blood by mosquitoes • Symptoms: • Flu-like symptoms • Elevated temp., mild jaundice, enlarged spleen • Severe form of disease: organ distress and failure, which can lead to death (It’s an example of pleiotropy- where one gene affects more than one trait.)

  6. 2. Lung & Mouth Cancer There are mutant genes that make you more likely to get certain cancers, but… Lung/mouth cancer is most likely caused by prolonged exposure to tobacco products. These products damage DNA to cause uncontrolled cell growth.

  7. Lung & Mouth Cancer

  8. Lung & Mouth Cancer Healthy lung Cancerous lung

  9. Lung & Mouth Cancer

  10. Lung & Mouth Cancer

  11. 3. Skin cancer/sun exposure/folic acid/vitamin D Some people are genetically more susceptible to skin cancer- light-skinned. Environmentally, increased sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. *UV radiation from tanning beds also increases the risk! New FDA regulations may be introduced soon for tanning teens! (WHO found skin cancer 75% more likely in people who use tanning beds in teens and 20s!)

  12. Skin Cancer & Sun Exposure Consuming folic acid (dark green leafy vegetables, dried beans and peas, vitamins) reduces your sensitivity to sun. Sun exposure causes the skin to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D can prevent or treat many types of cancer, including skin cancer. So, 15 min. of mild sun exposure a few times each week may be good for you!

  13. Sun Exposure & Vitamin D Darker skinned people have an advantage in equatorial regions- they’re more resistant to UV rays. But… Dark skinned people who live in cloudier regions north of the equator need to make sure they also get enough Vitamin D to make up for the lack of it due to less sun exposure or they will get Rickets! One way to supplement it is by buying Vitamin D milk!

  14. 4. Diabetes/Diet/Exercise Diabetes Types 1 and 2 are both genetic disorders. Type 1 is called juvenvile or insulin-dependent diabetes. The lack of insulin production has very little to do with environment.

  15. Diabetes Type 2 usually occurs after age 40 and its onset is usually brought on by obesity. It can be controlled by proper diet and exercise. Uncontrolled diabetes can result in: Blindness, heart disease, circulation problems, slowness to heal, and amputation of limbs.

  16. Diabetes • Symptoms of type 2 include frequent urination, thirst, hunger, and weight loss. • Type 2 is PREVENTABLE! Eat healthy, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. Atherosclerosis (heart disease)

  17. 5. PKU and diet PKU is a recessive genetic disorder that can cause mental retardation. However, symptoms of PKU can be controlled or eliminated by giving the baby a diet low in protein-rich foods (milk, eggs, meat, nuts, other high-protein foods, etc.) *Doctors test for this at birth, so parents know right away if their kid has it.

  18. PKU patients may have these PKU patients must avoid these

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