Heritable
Heritable refers to the genetic traits that can be passed from parents to their offspring. These traits are determined by the genes that are inherited from the parents. Heritable traits can include physical characteristics such as eye color, hair color, and height, as well as susceptibility to certain diseases and conditions.
Genetics and Heritability[edit | edit source]
Genetics is the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. It involves the examination of DNA, the chemical substance that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.
Heritability, on the other hand, is a statistical concept that describes how much of the variation in a phenotypic trait in a population is due to genetic variation among individuals in that population. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates that none of the variation in a trait in a population is due to genetic variation, and 1 indicates that all of the variation is due to genetic variation.
Heritable Diseases and Conditions[edit | edit source]
There are many diseases and conditions that are heritable, meaning they can be passed down from parents to their children through their genes. These include certain types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
For example, Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer can be heritable if a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is present. Similarly, Huntington's disease is a heritable condition caused by a mutation in the HTT gene.
Genetic Testing[edit | edit source]
Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of these tests can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
