Most of the major health-related problems facing society today have a genetic component – they run in families. This is true of everything ranging from cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer, to mental health and substance misuse.  But how genes influence these outcomes is very different than the simple genetics that most of us were taught in high school biology.  Instead of there being just one gene involved, so whether or not you have a particular version of that gene determines whether or not you get the disorder (or have the trait of interest, such as blue versus brown eyes), there are many genes involved in these outcomes – perhaps hundreds or more! 

So, any one gene on its own has a very small effect.  This means there is no gene FOR a particular outcome, rather, there are just combinations of genes that can increase or decrease the level of risk for a particular outcome.  And having a particular genetic combination still does not necessarily mean that you will be affected by a disorder.  The environment plays a big role.  For example, an individual might be at greater risk based on their underlying biology to become addicted to alcohol, but if for religious or personal reasons they choose not to drink, they will never develop alcohol-related problems.  The environment has essentially “buffered” their genetic risk.  The converse is also true.  The importance of environmental influences can also vary as a function of one’s genetic makeup.  That is to say, some people may be more likely to develop lung cancer when exposed to nicotine, or to develop depression when exposed to stressful life experiences.   This is why we need to study both genetics and environmental influences in order to develop maximally effective prevention and intervention programming.

Genetics is a high priority area for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The idea is that differences in patient’s genes and environment have the potential to change the way that medicine is practiced – moving from the current treatment model (where you go see a provider when something is wrong) to a personalized approach, in which prevention, intervention, and treatment efforts can be tailored to an individual’s personal profile.  Understanding genetics, behaviors, and environmental influences jointly promises to be a critical skill for understanding the future of medicine.  We want VCU students to be armed to understand these advances and to engage in dialogue about an emerging practice and the promise and challenges for personalized patient care. 

Click here to learn more about the importance of racial and ethnic minority involvement in genetic research.