Genetic Domain
5 Minute Read
The human genome is the entire blueprint of human inheritance." The sequence of the human genome obtained by the Human Genome Project, completed in April 2003, provides the first holistic view of our genetic heritage. The 46 human chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and 2 sex chromosomes) between them house almost 3 billion base pairs of DNA that contains about 20,500 protein-coding genes. These protein-genes provide the genetic code - a set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells. ... Those genes that code for proteins are composed of tri-nucleotide units called codons, each coding for a single amino acid. The coding regions make up less than 5% of the genome (the function of all the remaining DNA is part of the ongoing research. Together they constitute and determine our physiologic makeup.
Not only do genes provide instructions to proteins that determine our physical characteristics, they also play a part in aspects of our personality, disposition, environmental sensitivities, cognitive abilities and aptitudes. Along with these there are genetic disorders – abnormalities in the genetic coding which can potentially alter fundamental physiological features and characteristics.
There are four types of genetic disorders. Only one of which will be referenced here.
Single gene inheritance is also called Mendelian or monogenetic inheritance. Changes or mutations that occur in the DNA sequence of a single gene cause this type of inheritance. There are over ten thousand of known single-gene disorders.
Single-gene disorders have different patterns of genetic inheritance. Multifactorial inheritance is also called complex or polygenic inheritance. Multifactorial inheritance disorders are caused by a combination of environmental factors and alterations in multiple genes. For example, different genes that influence breast cancer susceptibility have been found on chromosomes 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 22. Some common chronic diseases are multifactorial disorders i.e. diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer and mental illness including, schizophrenia, bipolar, major depressive disorder, autism and ADHD.
Most genetic diseases are the direct result of an alteration in one gene. However, more recent research is beginning elucidate how multiple genes may also contribute to diseases that have a complex pattern of inheritance. Most of the focus of my research centered around mental illness. Over the course of a two year period 400 young adult age clients were surveyed for other symptoms running concurrently with their more troubling mental health conditions. Forty nine symptoms were identified, many of which were seemingly unconnected with mental illness. Allergies was one such condition often found in association with anxiety and depression. The multitude of symptoms suggest more than one gene was at play. In all these cases, no one gene has the definitive power to predetermine whether a person will develop the disease or not. It is more likely that multiple variations in gene coding are required before a particular disease or illness manifests. Susceptibility is further compromised by exposure to psychological, physiological stressors and/or environmental toxins. Each has the potential to make a subtle contribution to a person's susceptibility to a disease.
The reverse is also true. A recent study illustrates this graphically. A new epigenetic study now suggests that mothers' behavior can also have a substantial impact on their children's developing oxytocin systems. (October 17, 2019. Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science)
“The results of this study provide a striking example of how we are not simply bound by our genes but are rather the products of a delicate interplay between our blue prints and experiences. Early social interaction with our caregivers, certainly not excluding fathers, can influence our biological and psychological development through epigenetic changes to the oxytocin system. These and related findings highlight the importance of parenting in promoting cross-generational health.”
In short, we can encode our own genes through the subtle interactions of other domains of our identity.
Dr Bethel summarizing a review of research literature in different fields, including epigenetics and neuroscience, suggests that "the early ecology of childhood becomes — literally — biologically embedded in the way the genome works and the way the brain gets wired," and this drives change over the course of a lifespan. Both positive and negative life experiences can and do become wired, but positive post traumatic experiences can and do have a mediating effect on initial wiring.
What can you do?
Your Family Health History
Your family history is one of your best clues about your risk of developing mental disorders and many other common illnesses. Certain mental illnesses tend to run in families, and having a close relative with a mental disorder could mean you are at a higher risk.
If a family member has a mental disorder, it does not necessarily mean you will develop one. Many other factors also play a role. But knowing your family mental health history can help you determine whether you are at a higher risk for certain disorders, help your doctor recommend actions for reducing your risk, and enable both you and your doctor to look for early warning signs.
To gain a better understanding of your family health history, it may help to:
Talk to Your Blood Relatives
The first step in creating a family health history is to talk to your blood relatives. The most helpful information comes from “first-degree” relatives—parents, brothers and sisters, and children. Information from “second-degree” relatives, such as nieces, nephews, half-brothers, half-sisters, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can also be helpful.
Don't worry if you cannot get complete information on every relative. Some people may not want to talk. Others may be unable to remember information accurately. That’s okay. Whatever information you can collect will be helpful.
Keep a Record
Free print and online tools can help you create a family health history. One tool is “My Family Health Portrait” from the U.S. Surgeon General. It helps organize your family health history information. The following instructions describe how to use the print and online versions of this tool.
You can download and print out “My Family Health Portrait” and use it to record information about your family’s health. Once you fill in the information, you can keep it for your records, share the completed form with your doctor or health care provider, or share it with family members.
Please note: The Surgeon General’s “My Family Health Portrait” tool does NOT keep a government record of the information you fill in. Your health information is NOT available to anyone else, but you. The tool only provides the software for organizing your information. After you fill in your information, the completed form is available only to you for downloading. After that, it’s up to you whether you want to share the information with other family members or provide it to your health care provider.
As a family grows or family members are diagnosed with health conditions, new or updated information can be added. It may take a little time and effort, but this lasting legacy can improve the health of your family for generations to come.
Talk to a Mental Health Professional
If you have mental illness in your family, you may want to consult with a mental health professional who can help you understand risk factors and preventive factors.
of these gene variants won’t tell you nearly as much about your risk as your family history can.
What About Genetic Testing or Genome Scans? Can They Help Predict My Risk of Developing a Mental Disorder?
The short answer to this question is no—not yet.
One day, genetic research may make it possible to provide a more complete picture of a person’s risk of getting a particular mental disorder or to diagnose it, based on his or her genes. For example, recent Nation Institute of Mental Health funded research has identified five major mental disorders—autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disease, schizophrenia, and major depression—that can share common genetic components. Studies have also found that specific gene variants are associated with a higher risk of certain disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
Recent studies have begun to identify the genetic markers associated with certain mental disorders and may eventually lead to better screening and more personalized treatment, it is still too early to use genetic tests or genome scans to accurately diagnose or treat mental illness.
Genetic Testing Versus Genome Scans
Traditional Genetic Testing
Doctors order traditional genetic testing for people they think are at high risk of one of the rare diseases for which specific genes are known to be the cause. The results enable patients and their doctors to make informed health care decisions together. There are many different types of genetic tests. Genetic tests can help to:
· Identify gene changes that may increase the risk of developing a disease
· Diagnose disease
· Identify gene changes that are implicated in an already diagnosed disease
· Determine the severity of a disease
· Guide doctors in deciding on the best medicine or treatment to use for certain individuals
· Screen newborn babies for certain treatable conditions
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Currently, genetic testing cannot accurately predict your risk of developing a mental health disorder. If a disease runs in your family, your health care professional can tell you if it’s the kind of illness that can be detected through genetic testing. Your health care professional can help you make decisions about whether to be tested and can help you understand test results and their implications.
Take a temperament Inventory
Your temperament has genetic roots. Knowing your temperament can provide insight as to how you typically approach situations. Temperament most accurately describes tendencies or predispositions. It can help in predicting behaviour but must include other variables influencing how one might respond in any given situation.
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