1. Hertzmann and Boyce argue that “it is not genes or environment, nor is it genes and environment, but rather it is gene-by-environment interactions that influence developmental trajectories.” To what extent do you think that GxE interactions can contribute to major disparities along racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, or geographic dimensions? Please consider this both in general and in respect to your particular area of interest.
Based on the discussion presented by Hertzmann and Boyce seems to provide convincing evidence of the role of gene-by-environment interactions in the developmental literature, which can have profound implications for health disparities. I think that there is so much we don’t understand about the stress response pathway that it is plausible that similar/overlapping phenomena occur in this area. This can certainly lead to differential health outcomes in general, and particular in vascular disease, where inflammation is a key pathogenic pathway.
2. Discuss implications of epigenetic mechanisms of disease for intergenerational effects on health disparities, as well as for interventions designed to address health disparities.
The epigenetic mechanisms of disease discussed by Hertzmann and Boyce highlight an important mechanism by which factors such as racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, or geographic differences lead to health disparities, and the important challenges that exist in identifying interventions to promote equity. As epigenetics can sap generations, simply addressing an individuals’ socioeconomic status/environment, etc is unlikely to be a completely effective solution. The article highlights that there are key periods (ie prenatally) where interventions may have the most impact. I look forward to further research aimed at examining and intervening in these periods.
3. Discuss how the findings in the Robinette paper relate to socioecological model we are using in this course – e.g. briefly describe how the different levels displayed in this model are related to each other in this paper.
The Robinette paper is an interesting study that uses allostatic load to understand the physiologic effects of many pieces of the socioecological model. The factors evaluated in the study addressed important aspects of the model including neighborhood level (i.e. neighborhood income, safety) and behavioral (smoking, exercise, diet), which are importantly linked to economic and social resources (although not accounted for directly). Findings, such as that perceived safety affects health supports the socioecological model. There are also important limitations of the study that need to be taken into account, ie most participants were white and the investigators approached the study with preconceived notions about the relationship between perceived cohesiveness and safety with neighborhood socioeconomic status.