Hereditary

Hereditary refers to the transmission of traits, conditions, or diseases from parents to their offspring through their genes. This process is a fundamental principle of genetics and is responsible for the similarities between parents and their children.

Overview

Hereditary traits or conditions are passed down from generation to generation through DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information. Each individual has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. These genes may be the same (homozygous) or different (heterozygous).

Types of Heredity

There are several types of heredity, including:

• Mendelian inheritance: This is the most common form of inheritance and follows the laws proposed by Gregor Mendel. It includes dominant, recessive, and X-linked inheritance.
• Non-Mendelian inheritance: This includes other forms of inheritance that do not follow Mendel's laws, such as mitochondrial inheritance, genomic imprinting, and multifactorial inheritance.
• Polygenic inheritance: This refers to traits that are influenced by more than one gene, such as height, skin color, and intelligence.

Hereditary Diseases

Some diseases are hereditary, meaning they are caused by genetic mutations that are passed down from parents to their children. Examples of hereditary diseases include:

• Cystic fibrosis: This is a recessive genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system.
• Huntington's disease: This is a dominant genetic disorder that causes progressive brain damage.
• Hemophilia: This is an X-linked genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots.

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing can be used to determine an individual's risk of developing a hereditary disease. This can be done through various methods, including:

• DNA sequencing: This involves determining the exact order of the bases in a DNA molecule.
• Genetic screening: This involves testing a group of people to identify individuals at risk of having or passing on a genetic disorder.

See Also

• Genetics
• DNA
• Gene
• Mutation

References

Hereditary Resources
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