Hard to say. Of course you get at least some of the genes of your parents. But which ones? And in what ratios? More of your dad’s than your mom’s? Half and half? 70/30 if you’re a boy and 90/10 if you’re a girl? Or what? Who really knows, and how can this possibly be determined? Especially considering the million dollar question of what factor does the environmental conditions you’re exposed to play a part in your health and longevity?

“My grandmother smoked two packs a day her entire life, then died in her sleep, peacefully, about a week after her 97th birthday.”

“My brother never ate meat and ran 30 miles a week and died of a heart attack when he was 34.”

So if you enjoy smoking do you go through the agonizing attempts to quit dozens of times because you’re pretty sure it’ll add another 10 years to your life? Or do you roll the dice and keep smoking, hoping the genes you inherit will block the free radicals itching to take over your system?

Do you give up all of the things that are supposedly not good for you in return for a longer life without the things you really enjoy eating, drinking and smoking?

Tough call in my estimation. Not sure what the answer is. My grandfather was 98 and living alone, playing piano in a church band and drinking Old Fashioned’s at lunch just before he passed away. My dad is 94 and still driving, golfing and traveling. Will I get those genes? Who knows?

I can only hope I do…