title: The emerging field of ecogenetics.
abstract: Genetic differences in biotransformation enzymes and in target proteins can affect the individual susceptibility to drugs and environmental chemicals. The field of ecogenetics has emerged from the older area of pharmacogenetics, and investigates how genetic polymorphisms may represent risk factors for a number of diseases associated with exposure to toxic chemicals. Here, two polymorphisms, aldehyde dehydrogenase and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, are briefly discussed in relationship to alcohol and lead toxicity, respectively. The role of genetic polymorphisms in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, is also discussed. Furthermore, issues related to the functional significance of genetic polymorphisms, their interaction/combination, and ethical and societal considerations, are briefly addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98105-6099, USA. lgcosta@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000639:trends*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants