[bionerd]

This is exactly why I find the field of epigenetics[1] absolutely fascinating -- we are so much more than just the sum of our genes. Everything in our lives matters: our childhood, the stuff we eat, how much we sleep (or don't), how much physical exercise we have (or don't)... all these things have an influence on the levels of gene expression and that's what decides everything.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics

[stephp]

Yes, I am completely fascinated by this too. Kinda makes one paranoid, though!

One article I read was cleverly headlined something like, "You are what your grandpa eats."