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Occupational Cancers pp 21–31Cite as

Genetics and Gene-Environment Interactions

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Abstract

The field of genetics is generally considered to have originated with Charles Darwin’s famous book On the Origin of Species (1854), in which he presented his novel theory of evolution. This was followed by Gregor Johann Mendel’s 1866 publication of his work on heritability. Nearly a century later, in 1953, Watson and Crick would uncover the double-helical structure of DNA, unleashing a chain of discoveries pertinent to molecular genetics, which, when combined with the description of the DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology, would allow rapid, accurate, and affordable characterization of genetic variation. This forms the basis of modern genetic and molecular epidemiology, with which came the recognition of specific genetic susceptibilities to chronic diseases, such as cancer, and their interactions with our environment. Alterations in certain genes may influence the response to DNA damage or the way that environmental toxicants (or their metabolites) are processed and excreted. The remainder of this chapter will focus in detail on genetic susceptibility due to variation and interaction with environmental exposures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3223 Eden Avenue, ML0056, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA

    Scott M. Langevin PhD

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Environmental Health and Technology, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, G-E5, Providence, RI, 02912, USA

    Karl T. Kelsey MD, MOH

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  1. Scott M. Langevin PhD
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  2. Karl T. Kelsey MD, MOH
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Correspondence to Scott M. Langevin PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Helsinki University Central Hospital and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Sisko Anttila

  2. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA

    Paolo Boffetta

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Langevin, S.M., Kelsey, K.T. (2014). Genetics and Gene-Environment Interactions. In: Anttila, S., Boffetta, P. (eds) Occupational Cancers. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2825-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2825-0_2

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