Exercise and gene expression: physiological regulation of the human genome through physical activity
Open Access
- 1 September 2002
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in The Journal of Physiology
- Vol. 543 (2), 399-411
- https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2002.019265
Abstract
The current human genome was moulded and refined through generations of time. We propose that the basic framework for physiologic gene regulation was selected during an era of obligatory physical activity, as the survival of our Late Palaeolithic (50 000–10 000 BC) ancestors depended on hunting and gathering. A sedentary lifestyle in such an environment probably meant elimination of that individual organism. The phenotype of the present day Homo sapiens genome is much different from that of our ancient ancestors, primarily as a consequence of expressing evolutionarily programmed Late Palaeolithic genes in an environment that is predominantly sedentary. In this sense, our current genome is maladapted, resulting in abnormal gene expression, which in turn frequently manifests itself as clinically overt disease. We speculate that some of these genes still play a role in survival by causing premature death from chronic diseases produced by physical inactivity. We also contend that the current scientific evidence supports the notion that disruptions in cellular homeostasis are diminished in magnitude in physically active individuals compared with sedentary individuals due to the natural selection of gene expression that supports the physically active lifestyle displayed by our ancestors. We speculate that genes evolved with the expectation of requiring a certain threshold of physical activity for normal physiologic gene expression, and thus habitual exercise in sedentary cultures restores perturbed homeostatic mechanisms towards the normal physiological range of the Palaeolithic Homo sapiens. This hypothesis allows us to ask the question of whether normal physiological values change as a result of becoming sedentary. In summary, in sedentary cultures, daily physical activity normalizes gene expression towards patterns established to maintain the survival in the Late Palaeolithic era.Keywords
This publication has 124 references indexed in Scilit:
- Preventing and Treating OsteoporosisAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2001
- Endothelial dysfunction in endocrine diseaseTrends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2001
- Daily energy expenditure in Mexican and USA Pima Indians: low physical activity as a possible cause of obesityInternational Journal of Obesity, 2000
- Walking Compared With Vigorous Physical Activity and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in WomenJAMA, 1999
- Recreational Physical Activity and the Risk of Cholecystectomy in WomenNew England Journal of Medicine, 1999
- A Prospective Study of Walking as Compared with Vigorous Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in WomenNew England Journal of Medicine, 1999
- Stone agers in the fast lane: Chronic degenerative diseases in evolutionary perspectiveAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 1988
- Paleolithic NutritionNew England Journal of Medicine, 1985
- Reduction of Coronary Atherosclerosis by Moderate Conditioning Exercise in Monkeys on an Atherogenic DietNew England Journal of Medicine, 1981
- Rapid changes in left ventricular dimensions and mass in response to physical conditioning and deconditioningThe American Journal of Cardiology, 1978