Unzip your genes - Debate specific gene disorders

Is there a 'gene for autism', or an 'obesity gene'?

In the media you often see reports on latest research findings, talking about 'a gene for autism', 'a gene for obesity', or even a 'gay gene'. What is important to realise is that most of our characteristics are complex: they are influenced by many genes, and also by influences from our environment. So the relationship between a gene and a disorder is often not clear-cut. Not everyone who has the disorder will have this particular gene variant, and not everyone with the particular gene variant will actually go on to develop the disorder.

Genes code for a protein, and this protein in turn affects bodily functioning, usually in complex ways that are in turn influenced by many other factors. Ultimately, a gene variant may end up slightly increasing the risk for a particular disease. But there is not one 'gene for autism' or one 'gene for obesity', and there is certainly no 'gay gene'.

What do you think?

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