Much research has attempted to show direct linear relations between
genes and disorder. However, scientists have been discouraged by
inconsistent findings based on this simple gene-phenotype approach.
The alternative approach is to incorporate information about the
environment. A gene-environment interaction approach assumes that
environmental pathogens cause disorder, whereas genes influence
susceptibility to environmental pathogens.
This book brings together contributions from experts from
multiple disciplines who discuss:
- How epidemiological cohort studies can better integrate
physiological (mechanistic) measures;
- How best to characterise subjects’ vulnerability versus
resilience by moving beyond single genetic polymorphisms;
- How gene hunters can benefit from recruiting samples selected
for known exposures;
- How environmental pathogens can be used as tools for gene
hunting;
- How to deal with potential spurious (statistical) interactions,
and
- How genes can help explain fundamental demographic properties
of disorders (e.g. sex distribution, age effects)