Genetic Effects on Environmental Vulnerability to Disease
Wiley; 1 edition | August 5, 2008 | ISBN-10: 047077780X | 232 pages | PDF | 1.8 Mb

Much research has attempted to show direct linear relations between genes and disorder. However, scientists have been discouraged by inconsistent findings based on this simple gene-phenotype approach. The alternative approach is to incorporate information about the environment. A gene-environment interaction approach assumes that environmental pathogens cause disorder, whereas genes influence susceptibility to environmental pathogens.

This book brings together contributions from experts from multiple disciplines who discuss:

How epidemiological cohort studies can better integrate physiological (mechanistic) measures;
How best to characterise subjects' vulnerability versus resilience by moving beyond single genetic polymorphisms;
How gene hunters can benefit from recruiting samples selected for known exposures;
How environmental pathogens can be used as tools for gene hunting;
How to deal with potential spurious (statistical) interactions, and
How genes can help explain fundamental demographic properties of disorders (e.g. xxx distribution, age effects).