The concept that inherited disorders are caused by a single defective gene is no longer widely accepted in most genetic research and literature. The premise of the Environmental Genome Project, an outgrowth of the Human Genome Project, is that most disorders are in reality caused by complex sets of interactions between genetic and environmental factors. One line of thinking in science that is currently gaining in popularity is that some diseases occur because our ancestral genes may not be the best suited for our new, modern day environments. Perhaps instead of trying to make our genes fit our environments with gene therapy, we just need to change our environment, including our diets, to fit our genes. We know from experience in disorders such as cancer, that genetic factors may increase a person's susceptibility to contracting a disorder , but that this susceptibility can be greatly reduced through appropriate dietary and other environmental modifications.
Heredity is nothing but stored environment.
Luther Burbank Curiously, there has been little, if any, environmental research on most inherited connective tissue disorders. However, there is no reason to think that environmental influences would not be important factors, especially since many of the individual features of connective tissue disorders, such as mitral valve prolapse, blue sclerae, pectus excavatum, dislocated lenses, aortic aneurysms and osteopenia, have each been clearly linked to nutritional deficiencies. If we consider the possibility that these disorders are likely to be caused by a complex set of both genetic and environmental factors, then there are quite logical answers to all of these questions. Visit my Health and Logic home page to use my search feature , and see more information on connective tissue disorders and related features. Copyright 2000 Sandra Simmons.