Extract
Since the human genome was sequenced, extensive effort has been placed into mapping the role of genes in the onset of disease. It was expected that we would be able to explain the cause of disease and understand the genetic basis of health. However, we have found that while the genetic contribution to individual diseases varies, non-genetic factors have far greater attributable risks, often in the range of 80–90%. The dominance of non-genetic components highlights the importance of the environment to chronic disease risks and has led to the advent of the nascent field of exposome science.
Abstract
Genetic susceptibility can alter the initiation of lung diseases, but environmental triggers are vital determinants. There is an urgent need to study the exposome – the sum total of environmental exposures – to understand the aetiology of lung diseases. http://bit.ly/2YG5XpP
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: C.E. Wheelock has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S.M. Rappaport has nothing to disclose.
Support statement: This work was funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (HLF 20170734, 20170736) and the Swedish Research Council (2016-02798). C.E. Wheelock was supported by the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation (HLF 20180290); S.M. Rappaport was supported by the US National Cancer Institute (R33CA191159) and National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES004705). Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
- Received October 22, 2019.
- Accepted December 9, 2019.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020