The influence of a genetic predisposition on the risk of developing a particular disease does not exceed 5%, PLOS One reported.

Scientists from the University of Alberta analyzed data from 569 genetic studies collected over 20 years and covering 219 medical conditions. These studies examined the relationship between gene mutations, known as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), and various diseases.

SNP is a change in just one nucleotide in the human genome. Many types of SNPs are considered risk factors for hundreds of diseases. However, as it turned out,, the relationship between disease and genetics is at best dubious in most cases. DNA is not your fate, but SNP is a fake prediction of the disease. The vast majority of diseases, including many cancers, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, have at best a genetic contribution of 5 to 10%, said study co-author David Wishart.

There are diseases in which the genetic 'contribution' is approximately 40 to 50%. But such diseases are not so many. Crohn's disease, celiac disease and macular degeneration are among them. In the case of other diseases, the risk of their development in most cases is linked to metabolism, the environment, lifestyle, nutrition or exposure to chemicals, bacteria or viruses.