Want to become a genetic engineer.What should I do?

Can asthma be genetic? What about smoking, pollution? ?

• I'm answering my own question for those wondering because I posted a list of things that can help asthma sufferers on here about a week ago since I've been suffering from it myself since I was 11. I wanted to clear up some misinformation since I got one post to my question from someone who stated that asthma is "genetic" and to stop blaming smokers for asthma, since he claimed I didn't get asthma from second hand smoke growing up. I really hate it when people who know absolutely nothing about asthma, decide to post about it, as if they do. First of all, no one, knows what causes asthma. Asthma can have MANY causes. It is possible that asthma can be genetic in some, but it is a known fact that cigarettes have many toxic chemicals in them, and I truly believe, I might not have asthma, if I had not been exposed to second hand smoking in my childhood. When I become an adult, I ended up in the hospital years ago with a severe asthma attack due to the fact that I was exposed to too much smoke at a party. (at the time I thought I could handle it, but my lungs proved otherwise) I grew up with a smoker and was diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis at age 11. I have no way of knowing for sure if my parent's smoking gave me asthma, but it definitely, did not help. Even if I am genetically predisposed to asthma, smoking around children, or smoking yourself, is not going to do your lungs or their lungs, any good. I'm just tired of smokers trying to defend smoking because they don't believe it could cause asthma. Of course it could! Why couldn't it cause asthma in some, especially children who's lungs are more sensitive to air pollution in general? Like I said, no one knows for sure what causes asthma. Scientists only know certain things can trigger attacks, and smoke is one of them, any kind of smoke, not just cigarette smoke. Some scientists do believe genetics can play a role for some asthmatics who were born with lungs that are more likely to develop asthma, but I've met many asthmatics over the years, who don't fit the "genetic diagnosis". For example, I had one friend who developed asthma in his 40's due to severe chemical sensitivities he developed from his job. He had never had any asthma symptoms before that. Anyone, can develop chronic lung problems from being exposed to certain toxins for long periods of time, no matter what your genetics. That's the problem with asthma and why it's been so hard for scientists to find a cure. They know many triggers but still aren't sure why some things trigger attacks in some asthmatics, but not in others. One major suspect is air pollution. Asthma is exploding in children, and scientists are wondering if growing air pollution may be the cause, especially in the inner cities. Along with exposure to mold and chemicals in modern building materials, we live in a "toxic world". It's no wonder asthma is on the rise, all over the world. China is experiencing an industrial revolution. Guess what else they are experiencing? Fast growing rates of asthma, believed to be caused by all the construction dust and chemicals in building materials in their growing cities, along with soot and smoke from new factories. All I can say is, whether my asthma is partially genetic or not, I know that smoke irritates my lungs, period. So if you're a smoker, or you smoke around your kids, STOP. Why take the risk? If you want a kid with lung issues or allergies as they grow, keep smoking around them and see how things turn out. No one can tell a smoker what to do obviously, but stop acting like smoke does not affect others, when it does. Thanks.

• Answer:

  Asthma occurs when the airways in your lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and constricted. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and your airways produce extra mucus that blocks your airways. Signs and symptoms of asthma range from minor wheezing to life-threatening asthma attacks. http://health.yahoo.com/asthma-overview/asthma/mayoclinic--E05029A1-9E99-427B-BE47BA91B7BD70B5.html