© Getty ImagesNew research shows that genetics account for only five to 10 per cent of risk for most human diseases, and that gene testing is a poor predictor of whether someone will develop diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's and many types of cancer.
In most cases, your genes have less than five per cent to do with your risk of developing a particular disease, according to new research by University of Alberta scientists.
In the largest meta-analysis of its kind ever conducted, the researchers examined two decades of data from studies on the relationships between common gene mutations, also known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and different diseases and conditions. The results show that the links between most human diseases and genetics are shaky at best.
"Simply put, DNA is not your destiny, and SNPs are duds for disease prediction," said U of A computational biologist
David Wishart, who was a co-author on the study.
"The
vast majority of diseases — including many cancers, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease — have a
genetic contribution of five to 10 per cent at best."
The study also highlights some notable exceptions, including Crohn's disease, celiac disease and macular degeneration, which have a genetic contribution of about 40 to 50 per cent.
"Despite these rare exceptions, it is becoming increasingly clear that the risks for getting most diseases arise from your metabolism, your environment, your lifestyle or your exposure to various kinds of nutrients, chemicals, bacteria or viruses," explained Wishart.
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