Final answer:
Environmental influences on a person's growth and development can include culture, nutrition, and parenting, which impact epigenetic changes and the expression of genes, while heredity and DNA are genetic factors, not environmental.
Step-by-step explanation:
The environmental influences on a person's growth and development can include culture, nutrition, and parenting. Culture provides the values, beliefs, and practices a person is exposed to and can influence how they view themselves and the world. Nutrition is critical for proper development, especially during prenatal and early childhood development, as it supplies the necessary nutrients for physical and cognitive growth. Parenting shapes a child's environment and can influence emotional, social, and intellectual development through interactions, learning opportunities, and emotional support.
While heredity and DNA are crucial factors in a person's development, they are not considered environmental influences, as they relate to the genetic information passed down from parents.
Environmental factors play a significant role in determining how genes are expressed, a concept known as epigenetics. Exposure to environmental stressors can lead to epigenetic changes that impact growth and development. These changes can sometimes even be passed down to future generations.