ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Most organ systems develop early in gestation and do not become fully mature until weeks, months, or years after birth allowing ample opportunity for interaction with the environment.
Well known environmental encounters include hypoxia, malnutrition, infection, trauma, medical and recreational drugs, and the host of toxins that bombard us from natural and industrial sources.
The impact of exposure during critical periods in development depends upon what processes are critical at that moment — and what systems are disrupted. Deleterious effects can lead to alterations in specific organs and organ systems, permanent damage to the DNA, or semi-permament changes to the DNA,altering gene expression.
The latter are short term adaptive traits in attempt to establish phenotypes that meet the demands of the “current” environment. When changes match the predicted current and later-life demands, the individual will remain healthy, but there is a cost.
Today, more frequently than in past, the abundance of energy dense foods and less exercise, greatly influenced by our lifestyle choices, are in conflict with the programmed adaptive changes made during early development.