Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective

Evolutionary medicine is the application of evolution theory to understanding health and disease. It provides a complementary scientific approach to the present mechanistic explanations that dominate medical science, and particularly medical education. The chronic multifactorial disease of atheroscl...

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Main Author: Gerhard Mertens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hypertension
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/654078
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author Gerhard Mertens
author_facet Gerhard Mertens
author_sort Gerhard Mertens
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description Evolutionary medicine is the application of evolution theory to understanding health and disease. It provides a complementary scientific approach to the present mechanistic explanations that dominate medical science, and particularly medical education. The chronic multifactorial disease of atherosclerosis clearly illustrates the Darwinian paradigm. Recent research, combining the effects of genes and environment, has provided surprising clues to the pathogenesis of this major public health problem. This example makes a strong case for recognizing evolution biology as a basic science for medicine.
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spelling doaj-art-0104a5e3096c4967bfdc1a5c54a3cee82025-08-20T02:03:13ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hypertension2090-03922010-01-01201010.4061/2010/654078654078Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary PerspectiveGerhard Mertens0Department of Clinical Biology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, BelgiumEvolutionary medicine is the application of evolution theory to understanding health and disease. It provides a complementary scientific approach to the present mechanistic explanations that dominate medical science, and particularly medical education. The chronic multifactorial disease of atherosclerosis clearly illustrates the Darwinian paradigm. Recent research, combining the effects of genes and environment, has provided surprising clues to the pathogenesis of this major public health problem. This example makes a strong case for recognizing evolution biology as a basic science for medicine.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/654078
spellingShingle Gerhard Mertens
Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
International Journal of Hypertension
title Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
title_full Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
title_fullStr Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
title_short Gene/Environment Interaction in Atherosclerosis: An Example of Clinical Medicine as Seen from the Evolutionary Perspective
title_sort gene environment interaction in atherosclerosis an example of clinical medicine as seen from the evolutionary perspective
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/654078
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