Abstract:   According to the differential susceptibility model, individuals with certain genetypes are not only more vulnerable than others to the negative effects of adversity, but also disproportionately susceptible to the beneficial effects of supportive and enriching rearing environment. With the advancement of quantitative genetics and molecular genetics, a great many researches on the effect of gene-environment interaction on children’s development have emerged in recent years. For example, researches have been done regarding the interaction between environment (such as maternal sensitivity, stressful life events and family upbringing) and five candidate genes — 5-HTTLPR, DRD4, MAOA, COMT and BDNF — all of which support the differential susceptibility model. The underlying mechanisms of gene-environment interaction, racial and gender differences between individuals carrying vulnerable genes as well as further estimation of vantage sensitivity hypothesis are all important directions of future researches in this area.

Key words: gene-environment interaction, gene, differential susceptibility, vantage sensitivity