Autosomal inheritance

Autosomal inheritance refers to the way in which genetic traits are passed down through generations via the autosomes. Autosomes are the 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not the sex chromosomes. This form of inheritance is a fundamental concept in the field of genetics and is the basis for many genetic disorders.

Overview

Autosomal inheritance can be either dominant or recessive. In autosomal dominant inheritance, an individual only needs one copy of the dominant allele from either parent to inherit the trait or disorder. In autosomal recessive inheritance, an individual must receive two copies of the recessive allele, one from each parent, to inherit the trait or disorder.

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

In autosomal dominant inheritance, the presence of a single copy of a particular allele can result in the expression of a trait. This means that if one parent has the trait, there is a 50% chance that each child will inherit it. Examples of conditions that follow this pattern of inheritance include Huntington's disease and Marfan syndrome.

Autosomal Recessive Inheritance

Autosomal recessive inheritance requires two copies of a particular allele for the trait to be expressed. This means that both parents must be carriers of the trait, even if they do not express it themselves. There is a 25% chance that a child will inherit the trait if both parents are carriers. Examples of conditions that follow this pattern of inheritance include cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.

Genetic Disorders and Autosomal Inheritance

Many genetic disorders are inherited in an autosomal manner. These disorders can be caused by mutations in a single gene or multiple genes located on the autosomes. The severity and symptoms of these disorders can vary widely, depending on the specific gene(s) involved.

See Also

• Genetics
• Chromosomes
• Dominant allele
• Recessive allele
• Genetic disorders