Environmental factors influence genetic expression from "summary" of Human Biology by Cecie Starr,Beverly McMillan
Genes provide the instructions for making proteins, which carry out the functions of cells. However, the expression of genes can be influenced by environmental factors. One of the most well-known examples of this is phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder that causes mental retardation. This disorder occurs when a person inherits two recessive alleles that prevent the body from breaking down the amino acid phenylalanine. Without treatment, phenylketonuria can lead to severe intellectual disabilities. However, if a person with this disorder follows a strict diet that limits phenylalanine intake, the effects of the disorder can be minimized. This is an example of how environmental factors can...
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