Heredity and Health:
What Influence Do Our Genes Actually Have?

Jeanie Christian

The field of Genetics is only partially understood, even by scientists who have studied it for decades.  Theories are developed and believed to be true, but new findings often modify these theories.  Not many years ago, it was believed that the human body has 100,000 genes - chemical units of information - within the chromosome of a cell.  Now they believe it’s closer to 30,000.

It is common knowledge that traits such as hair and eye color, height and other physical features are influenced by heredity.  Many people believe their likelihood of getting a disease or other health related disorder is mainly determined by their genes.  They assume that if a parent or other close relative has, for example, heart disease or diabetes, it is almost inevitably their legacy too.

According to researchers, all humans have exactly the same genetic characteristics.  Our DNA - 99.9% of it - is a shared design with the same genetic blueprint.  It’s the 0.1% that makes us all distinctively unique.

Since everyone is more alike than different, does it mean we have equal chances of getting the same diseases?  Do our genes really play a dominant role in the outcome of our health? 

Research has shown that even though two people carry an exact same gene, it can have slightly different instructions.  So the potential strength of genetic influence - genetic expression - can differ even though they have corresponding genes.  One might get a disease while the other may not.  Perhaps neither will. So, even if we have inherited the possibility - a genetic predisposition - it doesn’t necessarily equal our fate.

A recent science journal article stated that findings from a half dozen research groups showed that heredity contributes less to our life span than originally thought.  They reported that lifestyle and environment have more impact on health than heredity.  Our genes may influence many diseases and health disorders; however, food choices, stress level, amount and quality of sleep and amount of exercise and sunshine, all have a greater effect on our health.  Avoiding harmful chemicals and carcinogens also contribute to our healthfulness and protect us from chronic disease.

Evidence of these research findings is found in recent demographic surveys.  People over the age of 100 are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.  Today there are roughly 64,000 compared to 6,700 twenty years ago.  This trend is attributed to more people leading healthier life-styles, being educated in nutrition and prevention and remaining actively involved in their own health care.

If we conclude that we will likely get cancer for instance, simply because it’s in our genes, it reflects an almost defenseless and powerless attitude.  Saying that heredity has a predominate influence on our health and longevity diminishes the power of prevention and our body’s miraculous capability to heal itself.     

We might have inherited the bump on our grandmother’s nose or our mother’s freckles, but we have the ability to change our genetic health potential.  Regardless of our family history, odds of preventing disease and leading a vital and productive life well into old age are excellent.  After all, the human body is designed to live at least 100 years.

Jeanie Christian is a photographer and writer presently specializing in natural health and nutrition research and writing to help promote awareness of holistic medical techniques, herbal treatments, organic foods and other alternative ways of thinking and living in the world.