Download Genetic Conditions with Environmental Influences

Genetic Conditions with
Environmental Influences
and Direct Causes
Biology
Genetics Unit
Environmental Influences
• Environmental influences
concern aspects of the
external and internal
environment
• Are not direct causes
• External – Temperature,
Nutrition, light, chemical,
infectious agents
– Example: Appearance of
leaves on a tree
• Internal – hormones,
structural differences
between sexes, age
Cardiovascular Disease
• CVD - Affects
function of the heart
and blood vessels
• Symptoms:
– Stroke & Heart Attack
• Indirect Causes:
– Inactivity & Poor diet
• 17 Million die per year
• Risk Factors:
– Age & Women
Diabetes
• Diabetes – A disease in which the
body cannot produce or properly
use insulin.
• TYPE 1 –Juvenile Diabetes
• TYPE 2 – Adult Onset
• Symptoms:
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Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision
• 18.2 Million have the disorder
• Risk Factors:
– Inactivity, age, weight, genetics
Asthma
• Asthma -airways
become blocked or
narrowed
• Symptoms:
– Shortness of Breath
• Indirect Causes:
– Overexposure to
Allergens
– Genetics
• 17 Million have asthma
• Risk Factors:
– Exposure to Allergens
– Environment
Cancer
• Cancer –unchecked cell
growth that spreads
throughout the body
• Symptoms:
– Lumps & Growths
– Painful , tender areas
– Unusual swelling
• Indirect Causes:
– Sun, diet, lifestyle, geography
– Genetics
• Affects about 250:100,000
Americans
• Risk Factors:
– Ethnicity (African-American)
– Environment
Direct Causes
• Direct causes are links
that seem to have a
direct correlation to
disease and disorder
• Direct causes either
create a change in the
genetic code (mutations)
• Direct causes can also
turn on certain genes
responsible for the
disease or disorder
Tobacco
• Tobacco products
can alter genes into
becoming
cancerous
• Tobacco causes
Lung Cancer, Heart
Disease,
Emphysema, and
complicate
pregnancy
• Increases risk
factors 50-60%
Radiation
• Radiation alters genes through
mutation and can turn on
oncogenes (genes promoting
cancer)
• UV Radiation from repeated,
overexposure to the sun
• X-Ray Radiation from repeated,
overexposure to radioactive
materials & machines
• Electromagnetic Radiation from
repeated, overexposure to high
frequency machines
Malnutrition
• Poor diet and lack of
food severely affects
DNA and the proteins
needed for the body
• Especially important
during youth when the
body is growing and
developing
• Creates Vitamin and
Mineral Deficiencies
that interfere with proper
protein synthesis
Lead Poisoning
• Heavy metals are known
mutagens for genes
• Many are poisoned by
their home environment
(old houses contain lead
paint)
• Modifies ALAD gene (on
Chromosome 3) which
alters hemoglobin
protein synthesis
– What symptoms would
manifest from this change
in protein synthesis?