Temperature at Birth?

[Kumar]

Hello,

Conclusions: Cold outdoor temperature at birth is associated with increased coronary heart disease, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and poor lung function. Further research is needed to determine whether this finding reflects events occurring late in the third trimester of intrauterine growth or early in the postnatal period.
http://heart.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/90/4/381

We talk much about genetic predispositions [A genetic predisposition is a genetic effect which influences the phenotype of an organism but which can be modified by the environmental conditions.]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predisposition

The above study indicates something interesting points by which genetic/inherited or aquired aspects are to be understood. I think we also aquire or inherit something which looks like predisposition during pregnany in fat or thin babies.

Under such thoughts, I have following quoestions:-

1. Can there be difference in body temperature of different babies at birth since babies may be having some differences in their makeup/compositions and movements?

2. Can outdoor environment/temperature effect babies differently?

3. If yes 2 above, can that effect be permanent and express picture of predisposition?

4. Whether all predispositions are just inherited genetic predispositions and by genetic mutations?

5. What can we aquire at or near to birth--somewhat permanent during the lifetime?

Best wishes.

 

[Kumar]

An organism's genotype is the largest influencing factor in the development of its phenotype, but it is not the only one. Even two organisms with identical genotypes normally differ in their phenotypes. One experiences this in everyday life with monozygous (i.e. identical) twins. Identical twins share the same genotype, since their genomes are identical; but they never have the same phenotype, although their phenotypes may be very similar. This is apparent in the fact that their mothers and close friends can always tell them apart, even though others might not be able to see the subtle differences. Further, identical twins can be distinguished by their fingerprints, which are never completely identical.


The concept of phenotypic plasticity describes the degree to which an organism's phenotype is determined by its genotype. A high level of plasticity means that environmental factors have a strong influence on the particular phenotype that develops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotype-phenotype_distinction


Results: Birth rates of people who later kill themselves show disproportionate excess for April, May and June compared with the other months.
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/188/5/416

The interaction between genotype and phenotype has often been described using a simple equation:

genotype + environment → phenotype
A slightly more nuanced version of the equation is:

genotype + environment + random-variation → phenotype
An example of the importance of random variation in phenotypic expression is Drosophila flies in which number of eyes may vary (randomly) between left and right sides in a single individual as much as they do between different genotypes overall, or between clones raised in different environments.

A phenotype is any detectable characteristic of an organism (i.e., structural, biochemical, physiological and behavioral) determined by an interaction between its genotype and environment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotype

Gene-environment interaction is a term used to describe any phenotypic effects that are due to interactions between the environment and genes. Naive nature versus nurture debates assume that variation in a given trait is primarily due to either genes, or the individual's experiences. The current scientific view is that neither genetics nor environment are solely responsible for producing individual variation, and that virtually all traits show gene-environment interaction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene-environment_interaction

The above links also indicate environment influence on developing new traits or phenotype.

In older times, deliveries of child was done in some closed/dark and warm rooms. Now mostly it may be under airconditionings. Most animals may also prefer dark and warm outdoor environment for giving birth.

In such considerations and in view of above quotes, what can we make out from light and temperature at or near to birth time?