NANP Board Practice Exam 2025 - Free NANP Board Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term "plastic heredity" appropriately refers to how lifestyle and environmental factors can influence the expression of genes related to disease. This concept highlights the idea that while our genetic makeup provides a blueprint, the environment and lifestyle choices can modify how these genes express themselves, subsequently affecting health outcomes.

For instance, an individual may inherit genes that predispose them to certain conditions, but factors such as diet, exercise, stress levels, and exposure to toxins can all influence whether those genes are activated or remain dormant. This perspective emphasizes the dynamic interaction between genes and the environment, suggesting that heredity is not solely a fixed outcome dictated by one's genetic code.

This understanding is pivotal in fields like epigenetics and lifestyle medicine, as it underscores the potential for individuals to alter their health trajectories through conscious lifestyle modifications.