Genetic Factors
_______ relate to your genes. Your _______ are present in every cell in your body. They contain the blueprint for the _______ of your cells. Genes direct how you grow and develop, influence your personality, and affect your health. _______ have 20,000 to 25,000 genes, which are composed of a chemical often referred to as DNA.
Located in a cell’s _______ , genes are bundled in packages called _______ (Figure 1.7). Humans inherit half of their _______ from each biological parent. The unique combination of genes from your parents determines many of your characteristics. For example, your nose might be shaped like one parent’s nose. You and one parent may both have red, wavy hair. Perhaps you have blue eyes like your parents.
The genes you receive from your parents can affect your _______ by putting you at risk for developing certain diseases, such as _______ . In this way, your family influences your health. To determine a person’s genetic risk factors for developing a disease, doctors study a person’s family history, the record of disease within a family. _______ are aspects of people’s lives that increase the chance of a disease, injury, or decline in health. Although you cannot change the genes you receive, there are actions you can take to reduce the risk factors for developing _______ linked diseases and disorders.
The first step is to learn about your family’s history of diseases. Do you have a family history of _______ , _______ , or _______ ? Ask your biological relatives for information. Then, learn about the risk factors linked to the diseases that run in your family. For example, leading an _______ and smoking are both risk factors for developing heart disease.