Question

In the review by Eberhart et al., the authors suggest that gene-environment interactions play a pivotal role in development defects. Please briefly compare and contrast in a one page, how this is similar to what happens in cancer and/or aging roles in developmental defects.

Answer 1

Nature vs Nurture or geneticts vs environment, has been complimentary and debatable topics of research.

Gene-environment interaction is nothing but understanding of genetic pathways that regulate develpoment of trait. This environment is way more different than the human developement occurs. Mostly the reason for developmental defects in humans are thought to be gene-gene or gene-enviroment interaction. And Eberhart at al, says gene enviroment interaction can along with environmental disturbance may predispose embryos to structural malformation. It is important to understand that development is context dependant and requires genetic variation, environmental context in which the genotype is functioning.

Cancer cell originate in the tissue because of DNA damange, given the developmental context with growth promptig environment they mutate.  Cells can be exposed to ultraviolet (UV), ionizing radiation (IR), and a variety of genotoxic chemicals and cause cancer. The toxicity of DNA damage depends on the structural changes they inflict as well as the characteristics of the cell they occur in. These are nothing but the developmental, environmental contects of cells.