Genetic and environmental factors influencing lung growth and lung function

Abstract

Lung growth and function in early life is a result of both purely genetic mechanisms plus complex interactions between genetic makeup and a large number of environmental factors. Over the last 10 or 20 yrs, a great deal had been learnt about these factors and their interactions. Given the relatively few environmental factors that are known to affect lung growth and function, there are likely to be many more that are still to be discovered. In the present chapter, the known genetic and environmental factors will be discussed; genes likely to alter lung growth or function without any obvious environmental factor being involved will be discussed first. Following this, environmental factors will be presented, along with the genetic variations that are associated with some of these factors.