I think you can`t unlink both factors (genes/womb and country) because genetic defects and growth of embryo are partly affected by social and environmental circumstances of the country, carciogenic pollution and food, malnutrition or physical stress of the mother (hard work, etc.). Thatswhy I would suggest, that maximum live expectancy is independant from origin (see Nesse, Williamson: Why We Get Sick : The New Science of Darwinian Medicine)but average life expectancy is primary dependent on country of origin.
Greetings from Halle(Germany) Steffen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Steffen Hentrich Research assistant: Environmental Economics Institute for Economic Research Halle Structural Change Department Kleine Maerkerstrasse 8 D-06108 Halle (Saale) GERMANY Tel.: ++ 49 345 7753 808 Fax: ++ 49 345 7753 820 eMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.iwh-halle.de/d/abteil/stwa/shh/pers.htm -----Original Message----- From: jim horsman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2002 3:12 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Life Expectancy and Immigration > Life expectancy varies widely between countries. When someone moves to > a new country, what best predicts their lifespan? Country of origin? > Or country of destination? > -- The country is not the determining factor for life expectancy. Some immigrants live like the country of origin and presumably they would have life expectancies similar to said country. Some immigrants live like the host country and should have similar life expectancies. 2 caveats 1- genes matter 2- what happens in the womb is enormously important and must be taken into consideration.