Genome Entry 4 : Environment

In this chapter, Ridley shows that genetic inheritance is also based on the environment of the individual. Chromosome 5 holds the asthma gene. This disorder holds a direct relationship with allergies. Many theories support why asthma has been increasing. theories such as new pollution from new technologies and even excessive hygiene. While studying the asthma gene, it was found that the closest genes to the asthma causing gene are the two genes that produce immunoglobulin-E. This protein comes in different forms and it helps with the release of histamine into the body. Even though asthma has been linked to genes, the individual genes are based on ethnicity and the cause of the disease is mostly determined by the environment of the individual.