Unlocking Nature’s Secrets: The Impact of Environment on Biology Beyond DNA

By Tom Rickey

Every human cell contains about six feet of DNA. This tightly packed structure holds the genetic blueprints that shape who we are. But having this information is just the beginning. Understanding how it all works is a different story.

Twenty years have passed since the Human Genome Project finished mapping out human DNA. Since then, scientists have also sequenced DNA from various other organisms like worms, mice, mosquitoes, fruit flies, trees, rice, and even pufferfish.

Science is currently filled with a wealth of genomic data. Researchers are shifting their focus to what lies beyond just genes.

At the upcoming meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston, a session titled “After the Genome: What Comes Next and Are We Ready?” will take place. Chemist Thomas Metz and data scientist Katrina Waters from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are organizing this discussion. UC Davis’s Arpana Vaniya will moderate the session.

“The advancements from the genome revolution have been remarkable,” noted Metz. “However, our genes only account for about 40% of our long-term health and disease risk. What influences the rest?”

During the session, several experts will discuss emerging factors that go beyond the DNA blueprint to explain life as we know it.

Aristides Patrinos from NYU will open the discussion with a look back at the Human Genome Project and its impacts. This significant project was a joint effort by the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health alongside many private sector scientists.

Gary Miller from Columbia University will delve into environmental influences on biological processes. He will explain how factors in our surroundings interact with genes, referring to this collection of influences as the “exposome.” Everyday scenarios illustrate this concept. For example, two siblings with similar DNA may lead vastly different lives, resulting in different health outcomes linked to lifestyle choices.

Pushing the conversation forward, Katrina Waters will discuss “Predictive Phenomics: The Next Revolution in Life Sciences.” While less known outside scientific circles, phenomics is essential in understanding observable traits in organisms. Characteristics like height or eye color stem from genes, but other factors come into play, too. For instance, some turtles become male or female based on nest temperature, whereas hydrangeas change color depending on soil pH.

At PNNL, Waters leads the Predictive Phenomics Initiative. This program aims to discover how various influences shape an organism’s biology. Researchers here combine chemistry, engineering, and artificial intelligence to develop microbial systems for future bioeconomics and enhance national security. They are also organizing the first Predictive Phenomics Conference from April 29 to May 1 in Richland, Washington.

The focus of both the Predictive Phenomics Initiative and the Exposome Moonshot is to understand the intricate molecular signals that influence life beyond DNA.

Metz emphasizes how all DNA consists of just four nucleotides, and proteins are made from only 22 amino acids. However, there are potentially millions of small signaling molecules that interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins. Once considered minor players, these signals greatly affect various outcomes, from plant growth to human health.

“We’ve learned so much about DNA and RNA and have good tools to study them,” Metz said. “But the journey doesn’t end there. We still have much to discover about the complex processes that operate beneath the surface.”