Medical Genetics - V. M. Zaporozhan 2005

Multifactorial Diseases
Ecogenetics
Examples of Ecogenetic Pathological Reactions — Paraoxonase Enzyme Polymorphism

Ecogenetic reactions may be related to the specific METABOLISM of exogenous chemical agents. For instance, the widely used insecticide parathion is converted in the Liver to paraoxon, which is subsequently oxidized by serum paraoxonase. Europeans exhibit a clear dichotomy between individuals with high and low levels of this enzyme's activity. The recessive allele encoding low enzyme activity occurs in the population with a frequency of 0.7. Homozygotes for low activity face a higher risk of parathion poisoning.



Last update: 11/08/2026

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