Environment versus Genetics

You share half of your genetic makeup with each of your parents, but you are no doubt very different from both of them. With this in mind, complete the following: Make a list of similarities and differences in yourself and your parents. Explain how you think your unique environment and experiences have contributed to some of the differences. Find one research article that focuses on the environmental impact on genetics. Give a brief review of the information found by the researchers.

There are various ways in which one is similar and different from his or her parents. On the one hand, similarities can be noted in traits that are inherited (Saugstad, 2018). These include hair color, eye color, skin color, body type, blood type, bone structure, height, handedness, colorblindness, ability to roll the tongue, and vulnerability to certain genetic disorders. The traits are inherited through genes. On the other hand, differences between parents and their children can be observed in acquired or learned traits (Saugstad, 2018). The traits include body scars, hairstyles, dressing codes, table manners, and preference of certain foods. Such traits are acquired or learned from one’s environment.

The differences exhibited by children and their parents are partly contributed by unique environments and experiences (Ellenbroek & Youn, 2017; Saugstad, 2018). For instance, exposure to violence or an environment in which the rate of crime is high can lead body scars and other injuries among individuals. The choice of dressing code is determined by what a given culture considers to be a culturally appropriate way of dressing. Food preferences are in most cases shaped by the food types that are available in a given environment.

In their study, Boyce et al (2020) opine that human development is determined by an interaction between the environment and genetics. The external environment in which an organism develops and the internal environment that comprises hormones and the process of metabolism influence genetic expression among organisms. For instance, exposure to malnutrition, poverty and stressful events influences early in life can be associated with poor health and maladaptive behaviors. Thus, one’s environmental experiences play a crucial role in the exploitation of genetic predisposition.

References:

Boyce, W. T., Sokolowski, M. B., & Robinson, G. E. (2020). Genes and Environments, Development and Time. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 117 (38):23235-23241. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2016710117.

Ellenbroek, B. A., & Youn, J. (2017). Gene-Environment Interactions in Psychiatry: Nature, Nurture, Neuroscience. London: Academic Press.

Saugstad, P. (2018). A History of Modern Psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.