New evidence for this age old debate has recently arisen in a study into gene expression. The study focused on the expression of white blood cells in 46 Moroccan Amazighs or Berbers. This population included desert nomads, mountain agrarians and coastal urban inhabitants, these groups were chosen because of their similar genetic composition but completely different lifestyles.
The researchers used the latest tools for finding the sequence and expression of the human genome to compare the three groups and assure genetic similarity. They found that there are certain genes that lifestyle and geography affect due to related environmental factors. One example of this is the respiratory genes being active more in the urban inhabitants due to greater amounts of pollution in the city and other difficulties that are not apparent in the nomadic or agrarian populations.
Overall the results of the study surprised the researchers as they did not believe that environmental factors would play any role in gene expression. However they found that about 30% of the genes were expressed in a different way among the urban inhabitants and the agrarians.
By Sam Borg
For more information go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422150659.htm
