Living with the past: evolution, development, and patterns of disease.
Epidemiological observations have led to the hypothesis that the risk of developing some chronic noncommunicable diseases in adulthood is influenced not only by genetic and adult life-style factors but also by environmental factors acting in early life. Research in evolutionary biology, developmental biology, and animal and human physiology provides support for this idea and suggests that environmental processes influencing the propensity to disease in adulthood operate during the periconceptual, fetal, and infant phases of life. This "developmental origins of health and disease" concept may have important biological, medical, and socioeconomic implications.
Gluckman
Peter D
PD
Liggins Institute, University of Auckland and National Research Centre for Growth and Development, 2-6 Park Avenue, Grafton, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. pd.gluckman@auckland.ac.nz
Hanson
Mark A
MA
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001724:Birth Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003463:Cues; D004194:Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors