Q and A: about health and research

A Personal Experience That Raised Genetic Questions Sixty years ago, I experienced a frightening medical episode that has remained with me ever since. After exposure to sulfa compounds and consuming potatoes treated with sulfites (Schwefel in German) preservatives commonly used at the time to prevent peeled potatoes from discoloring, I lost consciousness. Growing up in post-war Germany, I was also familiar with concerns about solanine, a natural toxin concentrated in potato skins, sprouts, and green tissues. Having lived through years of food shortages, many older Germans were careful to peel potatoes thoroughly to reduce the risk of poisoning from green or sprouted potatoes. That incident led me to wonder whether my unusual sensitivities to sulfites, alcohol, sulfa drugs, phosphorus-containing compounds, and other chemicals might have a biological or genetic basis. Over time, I became interested in the genetic and biochemical pathways that influence how the body detoxifies reactive co...