DISEASES

Info about the Hereditary Disease

What is Hereditary Disease?

It is a disease or disorder that is inherited genetically. Hereditary Diseases are passed on from one generation to another through defective genes. These diseases are transmitted in the same family. The chromosomes in the humans are responsible for passing the traits from the parent to the offspring.

First, let's know the basics of GENETICS

Genetics research studies how individual genes or groups of genes are involved in health and disease. Understanding genetic factors and genetic disorders is important in learning more about promoting health and preventing disease.

Some genetic changes have been associated with an increased risk of having a child with a birth defect or developmental disability or developing diseases like cancer or heart disease. Genetics also can help us understand how medical conditions happen.

How do we get our Genes?

People get (inherit) their chromosomes, which contain their genes, from their parents. Chromosomes come in pairs and humans have 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs. Children randomly get one of each pair of chromosomes from their mother and one of each pair from their father. The chromosomes that form the 23rd pair are called the sex chromosomes. They decide if a person is male or female. A female has two X chromosomes, and a male has one X and one Y chromosome. Each daughter gets an X from her mother and an X from her father. Each son gets an X from his mother and a Y from his father.

Genetic Disorders

Genetic disorders can happen for many reasons. Genetic disorders often are described in terms of the chromosome that contains the gene. If the gene is on one of the first 22 pairs of chromosomes, called the autosomes, the genetic disorder is called an autosomal condition. If the gene is on the X chromosome, the disorder is called X-linked.

Genetic disorders also are grouped by how they run in families. Disorders can be dominant or recessive, depending on how they cause conditions and how they run in families.

Dominant

Dominant diseases can be caused by only one copy of a gene with a DNA mutation. If one parent has the disease, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutated gene.

Recessive

For recessive diseases, both copies of a gene must have a DNA mutation in order to get one of these diseases. If both parents have one copy of the mutated gene, each child has a 25% chance of having the disease, even though neither parent has it. In such cases, each parent is called a carrier of the disease. They can pass the disease on to their children, but do not have the disease themselves.

Single Gene Disorders

Some genetic diseases are caused by a DNA mutation in one of a person’s genes. For example, suppose part of a gene usually has the sequence TAC. A mutation can change the sequence to TTC in some people. This change in sequence can change the way that the gene works, for example by changing the protein that is made. Mutations can be passed down to a child from his or her parents. Or, they can happen for the first time in the sperm or egg, so that the child will have the mutation but the parents will not. Single gene disorders can be autosomal or X-linked.

For example, sickle cell disease is an autosomal single gene disorder. It is caused by a mutation in a gene found on chromosome 11. Sickle cell disease causes anemia and other complications. Fragile X syndrome, on the other hand, is an X-linked single gene disorder. It is caused by a change in a gene on the X chromosome. It is the most common known cause of intellectual disability and developmental disability that can be inherited (passed from one generation to the next).

Chromosomal Abnormalities and Different Number of Chromosomes

Changes in Chromosomes

Sometimes chromosomes are incomplete or shaped differently than usual. When a small part of a chromosome is missing, it is called a deletion. If it has moved to another chromosome, it is called a translocation. If it has been flipped over, it is called an inversion.

For example, people with Williams syndromeexternal icon are missing a small part of chromosome 7. This deletion can result in intellectual disability and a distinctive facial appearance and personality.

Complex Conditions

A complex disease is caused by both genes and environmental factors. Complex diseases also are called multifactorial. Most chronic diseases, like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are complex conditions. For example, while some cases of cancer are associated with inherited genetic changes, for example, Lynch syndrome and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, the majority most likely are caused by changes in several genes acting together with environmental exposures

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