Genetics and Disease Overview

Genes and Health

• The majority of our genes promote health by forming cells, organs, and bones, allowing the body to function properly and heal wounds.
• Health-giving genes contribute to physiological processes, such as skin regeneration and the preservation of taste quality in fruits.

Diseases and Gene Interactions

• Diseases are rooted in genes and gene combinations, emerging from interactions between genetic factors and environmental elements.
• Symptoms like those from the flu are a result of genetic programming that responds to specific microbial infections.
• Conditions such as hemophilia illustrate how genetic factors can complicate bodily responses, such as difficulty in stopping bleeding.

Chronic Diseases

• Chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease, diabetes) can be triggered by genetic responses to long-term environmental factors, particularly diet.

Sources of Disease Genes

• Disease-causing genes can originate from parental inheritance present in the initial embryo stage.
• Some health-giving genes can become harmful through mutations occurring during a person's lifetime due to environmental influences.

Causes of Gene Damage

• Mutations leading to disease are largely attributed to unnatural synthetic chemicals polluting the environment.
• Natural factors like cosmic radiation, excessive sunlight, and chemicals from plants and microorganisms also contribute to genetic damage.
• Genetic mutations result from continuous low-level exposure to both natural and synthetic environmental chemicals over time.