Having missed the end of our experiment this past week, I was intrigued by the scientific study process in which they conduct observations and study the results to determine the causes of disease outbreaks. As we understood, there is a great difference between genetic and environmental causes of diseases.

In my research, I came across the fact that scientific research is now being conducted on how these two factors interact together, rather than separately. As complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are researched further, without the traditional genetic transfers, yet a genetic trend, this lurking variable of environment gives an added factor that just may be necessary in ‘solving the case.’

This justification makes sense to be less focused research because as long as the disease is being identified with many factors, it can also be cured with fewer of the ‘symptoms,’ meaning just a genetic or just an environmental trigger.

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/complex-diseases-research-and-applications-748