Use of ‘Omic’ Approaches in Unraveling Mechanisms of Gene-Environment Interactions

The genocentric view of disease that has dominated biomedical science for the past 25 years has proven insufficient for determining causation of most diseases. The technology arising from genomic efforts, however, provides powerful tools for developing the more meaningful cellular and molecular understanding of disease causation, particularly as it is affected by environmental and behavioral parameters. The Environmental Genome Project, the Mouse Genetic Variation Mapping Initiative, and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Initiative are discussed as projects that aim to capitalize on genomic technology in ways that better define the environmental and genetic underpinnings of chronic diseases and disorders.