Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment

Over the past century, we have made great strides in reducing rates of disease and enhancing people's general health. Public health measures such as sanitation, improved hygiene, and vaccines; reduced hazards in the workplace; new drugs and clinical procedures; and, more recently, a growing understanding of the human genome have each played a role in extending the duration and raising the quality of human life. But research conducted over the past few decades shows us that this progress, much of which was based on investigating one causative factor at a time—often, through a single discipline or by a narrow range of practitioners—can only go so far. Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment examines a number of well-described gene-environment interactions, reviews the state of the science in researching such interactions, and recommends priorities not only for research itself but also for its workforce, resource, and infrastructural needs.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 The Impact of Social and Cultural Environment on Health3 Genetics and Health4 Genetic, Environmental, and Personality Determinants of HealthRisk Behaviors5 Sex/Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Health6 Embedded Relationships Among Social, Behavioral, and GeneticFactors7 Animal Models8 Study Design and Analysis for Assessment of Interactions9 Infrastructure10 Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications11 ConclusionAppendix A Methodology: Data Collection and AnalysisAppendix B Recommendation from the National Academy of SciencesReport, Facilitating Interdisciplinary ResearchAppendix C Social Environmental and Genetic Influences on Obesityand Obesity-Promoting BehaviorsAppendix D The Interaction of Social, Behavioral, and GeneticFactors in Sickle-Cell DiseaseAppendix E Modern Epidemiologic Approaches to Interaction:Applications to the Study of Genetic InteractionsAppendix F AcronymsAppendix G Biographical SketchesIndex