Type one Diabetes. Scientists know it has something to do with genes, but it also requires environmental factors such as a childhood virus AND extreme amounts of stress. Cancer is also caused by environmental factors that cause the DNA of a cell to warp, so it loses control of mitosis, or cell replication.
Interactions between genes and the environment can influence phenotype by modifying gene expression levels. Environmental factors like diet, stress, and exposure to pollutants can impact gene regulation, leading to different phenotypic outcomes. For example, identical twins with the same genetic makeup can exhibit differences in traits like height or disease susceptibility due to environmental influences.
Characteristics are determined by the interaction between genes and the environment. Genes provide the blueprint for traits, but how they are expressed can be influenced by external factors such as diet, lifestyle, and experiences. This interaction between genes and the environment is known as gene-environment interaction.
genes and the environment
Interactions with the environment can modify gene expression.
A trait is a specific characteristic of an organism. Traits can be determined by genes or the environment, or more commonly by interactions between them. The genetic contribution to a trait is called the genotype. The outward expression of the genotype is called the phenotype.
The phenotype for a tall plant refers to its physical characteristic of being tall, such as its height compared to other plants. This can be influenced by genetic factors, environmental conditions, and interactions between genes and the environment.
Probabilistic epigenesis is a theory that suggests development occurs through bidirectional interactions between genetic and environmental influences. It posits that both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) play a role in shaping an individual's growth and development, with outcomes being probabilistic rather than determined solely by genes or environment alone. This theory highlights the complexity of development and the significance of interactions between genetic predispositions and environmental factors.
Nutritional genomics: the science of how nutrients affect the activities of genes (nutrigenomics) and how genes affect the interactions between diet and disease (nutrigenetics). Source: Understanding Nutrition by Elli Whitney
Some examples of genetic disorders involving more than one defective gene are cystic fibrosis, which is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene and other modifier genes; and certain types of neurofibromatosis, which result from mutations in both the NF1 and NF2 genes. These disorders demonstrate the complexity of genetic inheritance and the interactions between multiple genes.
Factors that control traits include genetic inheritance, biological influences, environmental factors, and interactions between genes and the environment. These factors can determine an individual's physical characteristics, behaviors, and abilities. Additionally, epigenetic modifications and random mutations can also influence traits.
Pleiotropic traits are single genes that affect multiple, seemingly unrelated, phenotypic traits. They are often the result of complex interactions between genes and can have wide-ranging effects on an organism's characteristics. Examples include sickle cell anemia, which can affect both red blood cell shape and resistance to malaria.
The genotype and the environment both affect a phenotype.