Does our DNA define us?

DNA, the unifying molecule of life, has become a star in its own right. Just about every movie, television show, and news broadcast these days gives DNA a central role in the telling of their particular story, real or imagined. From movies like Jurassic Park, to shows like Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), to even the OJ trial, DNA has become a pervasive element in modern day society.

Even so, my guess is that even though people have some familiarity with the three magical letters that abbreviate Deoxy riboNucleic Acid, the average person in the world today has no clear understanding of what DNA is or what it actually does....

To highlight this point, it is important to keep in mind that DNA in and of itself doesn't really have an actionable role...in fact, it is quite inert, and can be seen as playing its part several steps away from where the real action occurs (at the protein level). DNA is simply a code, a blueprint if you will, much like the one a contractor will use to build a house...except for the fact that DNA is the blueprint for life. All life on planet Earth is inextricably linked by this marvelous molecule, and before you start thinking that as a human being you are the lord and master of this world, keep in mind that your DNA is extremely similar to that of a chimpanzee, the chicken or fish you might be eating for dinner, or even an innocuous garden slug.

So yes, DNA is miraculous and it does bind every living creature on this planet. But does it truly define us as individuals? The answer to this question is an incredibly complex one, and it highlights the age old conundrum of 'nature vs. nurture'. In other words, are our genetics the main controlling factor, or does our environment and the choices we make throughout life play the most important role?

In short, our DNA may be able to tell us who we are, but it cannot tell us what we will become. For example, although an individual may have a genetic propensity for cardiovascular disease, cancer, or obesity, this does not mean that it must come to fruition. By leading a healthful lifestyle, exercising regularly, and maintaining a proper relationship with food, a person and even more so a child, can help to shape their future physical well being.