Genetic and Epigenetic Dysregulation in Environmental Disease

Human disease is tightly linked to the gain or loss of specific genetic functions that alter cellular functions. The root cause for these genetic alterations is linked to gene-environment interactions that not only reflect family history, heritability, and genetic variation, but also changes in the epigenetic landscape of cells, tissues, and organs (Fig. 1). This chapter focuses on genetic and epigenetic dysregulation induced by environmental factors with an emphasis on lung oncogenesis and the role of Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) in this process. Lastly, we discuss how a better understanding of gene-environment interactions can speed the development of tools and reagents for advancing precision oncology.