Study: Environment Trumps Genetics in Shaping Immune System

January 19, 2015

(New York Times) – How your immune system does its job seems to depend more on your environment and the germs you encounter than on your genes, says new research that put twins to the test to find out. After all, the immune system adapts throughout life to fight disease, said Stanford University immunologist Mark Davis, who led the work. And while young children’s immunity may be more influenced by what they inherit from mom and dad, Thursday’s study showed genetic influences waned in adulthood.