I'm glad this was brought up. What you're talking about here is P-450 enzymes. We all have them but what makes us biochemically unique is that we all have differing amount of these particular enzymes. Occasionally, one or more is completely absent. These enzymes are also highly polymorphic, meaning that if you are of Asian descent you would most likely be deficient in an enzyme called 2D6. If you were of Northern European descent you would usually have plenty of 2D6.
The P-450 enzymes are a system of enzymes that detoxify drugs people take, foods we eat, water we drink, and the air we breathe. Without these enzymes we would be unable to survive. Here is a primer on P-450 enzymes: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpardee/ -- Regards, Catherine "Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can." -- Mary Frances Berry
