You probably know that your genes help make you who you are.
Except for identical twins, everyone has a slightly different
set of genes, and when our genes interact with our environment,
that’s what makes us unique individuals. Genes give us different
hair, eye, and skin colors, and affect our height and weight.
Genes also affect the inside of our bodies, and influence how
organs like the heart, lungs, and even the brain work. But did
you know that genes also affect how you behave. And the opposite
is true as well–how you behave can affect your genes! Scientists
have learned that genes are affected by our lifestyles–what we
eat and drink, how much we exercise, how much we sleep. These
factors influence how genes are expressed–or turned “on” or
“off”–in our bodies. That can have pretty major effects on
health. Currently, scientists are studying how taking cocaine
affects your genes. Scientists have known for a while that using
cocaine over a drawn-out period can lead to permanent changes in
the brain. Teen bra