10

1
genetics
tips to master

Humans are more than

99% genetically identical
Since were mostly the same (less than 1% of our genes are
varied from one another), researchers can determine how en-
vironment impacts those differences. This gives you a lot of
power! The genetic environment is influenced by your diet and
lifestyle, which youre primarily in control of.
your
Genetic variants occur naturally 2
A genetic variant (also called an allele, single nucleotide polymorphism
or SNP) is a small difference from the original DNA sequence. These
variants occur naturally during cell division. Some are hereditary (you
were born with them) and some are acquired during your lifetime. You
can influence the ones you acquire.

3 Our phenotype (all of our traits and

characteristics) are the result of the
interaction between our genome (all
of the genes we inherit) and our envi-
4 Not all gene
variations are bad 5
Variants ronment. You have power here, because Get this most SNPs have no effect on health or
development. Its true! That said, some variations
Polymor-
can occur your environment can both alter inher-
ited genes and create new gene vari- are proving to be key in studies of health and re- phisms are
due to ants during your lifetime. Environment searchers have determined particular SNPs that
small
may help predict a persons response to certain
epigenetic includes diet, behaviors, parental age
pharmaceuticals, their risk for the occurrence of We all have polymor-
and exposures.
factors diseases, or reaction to particular toxins. phisms. In fact, you
probably have hun-
dreds of them (and

6 The variations that have large effects are rare

While genetic variants are common and often dont have major health impacts, genetic mutations
may be different. Mutations are rare and can more readily lead to disease presentation such as
cancer. Mutations involve changes in the arrangement of the proteins that make up a gene and just
I do too)! They are
the most common
type of genetic varia-
tion and occur in the
DNA both on and in
one alteration can have a major impact. between genes.

having the gene variant does not

determine the probability of disease 8 In test results, every variant
is analyzed separately

7 We must always remember the saying genes load the

gun, environment pulls the trigger. In other words,
your genes are not your fate. You can transform a high
probability of disease to a low one by altering the terrain
in which your genes live.
When we look at test results that show us our genetic make-up
and occurrence of variants in our genes, know that were viewing
whats possible, not whats probable. This means our genome can
contain two (or more) genes for which the recommendations are
contradictory.

The gene variant does not

define the protocol 9 You cannot treat a variant in isolation

Because the blueprint does not equal expression, we cannot

expect to treat SNPs separate from other clinical findings. Be
careful of following one-size-fits all recommendations based
on one allele or biomarker.
Instead of focusing your self-care attention on what a gene
variant does or does not do to you, instead ask yourself
about the interaction between your environment (internal
10
and external) and your genes. When you take control of the
terrain, you become an epigenetic master!

Copyright 2017 Functional Nutrition Alliance, formerly Replenish PDX. www.replenishpdx.com