Human Ecogenetics

The term “ecogenetic” brings together ecology and de-la-genetique. The relationship between the species’ genetic data and environmental data is indeed to be studied.

The action of a species always has an impact on the environment, and changes in the environment in turn affect the data of the species. It must adapt either immediately or in the longer term through a change in its genetic heritage. The guiding axis of ecogenetics thus understood is co-evolution, i.e. the reciprocal influence of environmental changes and genetic changes.

The concept of ecogenetics is used as an adjective to characterize the study of the influence of differences between biotopes on the geographical distribution of a species. In the USA, the term “human ecogenetics” is used in medicine (as a synonym for “pharmacode-la-genetique”) to refer to research on acceptable doses of drugs based on genetic differences between individuals (the drug is considered an environmental factor, hence the prefix “eco”).

The environment considered here brings together the physical environment (nature, cities, habitat, climate, pollution, etc.) and the cultural environment (social relations, cultural constraints, morals, religions, consumerism). These two classes of influences have complex effects on human psychism, particularly on the psychic structure that occurs in childhood. It is also necessary to take into account feedbacks, which are always difficult to predict: the modified psychic state can determine new changes in both the material environment and the cultural environment. Then these transformations can expand and in turn influence the psychic state of the populations. The history of civilizations is thus written by successive cascades, until their disappearance.

The action of modern man on the planetary ecosystem is far more violent and multifactorial than that of all animal species combined and all previous civilizations. We can easily cause irreversible damage, compromising the sustainability of the environment and putting species at risk – including ours. It is therefore more important than ever to identify psychic dysfunctions that can lead us to eco-destructive behaviour or make us neglect the major importance of a preserved environment, an irreplaceable guarantee of survival for future generations.

Human ecogenetics proposes to seek first among the innate or acquired tendencies peculiar to civilized man the factors responsible for the multiple disorders and sufferings that affect our civilization, or have affected others before us. Once these factors are clearly established, the awareness of the root causes of the “eco-suicidal errors” of the human species will only encourage behavioural changes that must be won by large numbers.