DNA Quote: Dr. Eric Lander

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted October 12, 2007 in DNA Quotes and Excerpts

Dr. Eric Lander, founding director of the Broad Institute, in the October 15, 2007 issue of Newsweek:

When we talk about why people get a disease, there are multiple components. There are inherent risks, and there are environmental exposures—and it’s about a combination of those. We know that certain diseases are becoming more prevalent these days—asthma, for example. It’s not because genes have changed; it’s because environmental triggers have changed. …it doesn’t mean that you’re going to treat it by genetics. It might be that, once genetics lets you understand what pathway has gone awry, the best treatment might be a drug or a diet.

Tags: genetics, genes, dna, eric lander, quotes, science

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2 Comments »

Comment by Dana Waring

2007-10-15 14:11:58

This is a great quote. I love the idea that widespread genetic testing or sequencing in the end might end up proving that so many diseases and conditions are because of environmental causes, or the complex relationship between genes and environment.

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Comment by Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

2007-10-17 14:06:29

Hi Dana, We done so much to change our environment that our bodies are surely reacting to it in both positive and negative ways. Just being alive is hard work!

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