What are genetic and environmental cues?

Genetic and environmental cues are like instructions that help your body know what to do when.

Imagine you're growing up, your body is like a plant in a garden. The seeds it starts with are like the genetic cues, which come from your parents. These tell your body things like, “You’ll be tall,” or “You love chocolate.”

But just like a plant needs sunlight and water to grow big and strong, your body also needs help from outside, that’s where environmental cues come in. These are things you experience every day, like what you eat, how much you play, or even how warm the weather is.

Think of it like this: You’re a robot with a special map inside your head. The genetic cues are like the map, they show where you're going. But if you don’t have the right tools (like food and friends), you might not get there as quickly.

Sometimes, even if you have a great map, you need to follow the directions from the environment, it’s all part of how your body grows and changes!