Let’s be honest, we all have things in our life we really should, but just don't, understand. Some of us struggle with social interactions, some with basic cooking skills, and others, with doing our taxes. For the records, I'm a total introvert, I have burned the ends of noodles that were sticking out of a pot of water, and I have never in my life done my own taxes. Don’t judge.
There will always be ways to get around these things - that’s why accountants exist. But for others, like genetics, it really is in your best interest, or rather the best interest of a longer healthier life, to understand a bit about it.
So what are some common misconceptions about genetics?
Genetics does not determine everything about you, including your behavior, personality, and health outcomes. While genetics plays a big role, environmental factors and complex interactions between genes and the environment also influence traits, behaviors, and your health. This applies to a lot of the heavy health hitters: cancer, mental health, cardiac disease, autoimmune conditions, obesity, and diabetes.
Traits are not always inherited in a straightforward manner. Don’t get me wrong, as a fellow gardener, I respect Mendel’s love of pea plants, but not every trait is controlled by a single gene. In reality, many traits are polygenic, meaning they are influenced by multiple genes. Think height, skin color, hair color, and eye color.
Genetic testing cannot predict future health outcomes with absolute certainty. While it can provide valuable information about disease risk, many factors, including lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and chance, also influence disease development.
While identical twins share the same genetic makeup, they can still have differences in traits and health outcomes due to epigenetic factors, environmental influences, and random mutations that occur after conception.
Traits and conditions do not skip a generation. Ever. That is because various factors, including penetrance, variable expression, and inheritance impact how the condition presents clinically.
Not all genetic tests are created equal nor is any one genetic test able to test for ever genetic change. Many genetic tests focus on specific conditions or variants and may not cover the full spectrum of potential health risks or outcomes. So saying, “I had genetic testing during my pregnancy” or “My grandma’s cancer wasn’t genetic” or “that test I ordered off the internet was negative” may not have addressed what you thought it did.
Not all genetic variants are harmful. Yes, some can lead to or significantly increase your risk for diseases or disorders, but some are neutral, while others can confer benefits, such as increased resistance to certain diseases or improved adaptation to environmental conditions. Case in point, did you know that being a carrier of sickle cell trait confers a resistance to malaria? Or that, while some variants in the LRP5 gene can result in retinal damage and vision loss, other variants in the same gene can increase bone mineral density. Think Unbreakable where Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson.
Finally, genetic variation and thus human diversity is crucial to the survival of our species. Different is good - different is essential. Embrace it.
Understanding these aspects of genetics can empower you to make informed decisions about your health, contribute to scientific research, and engage in discussions about the ethical and societal implications of genetic advancements.
And it may give you something else to talk about at the next party you attend…something other than how you burned noodles that were, at the time, in water.
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