Genes & Inheritance
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[edit] Laws of Inheritance
The basic laws of inheritance are important in order to understand patterns of disease transmission. Single-gene diseases are usually inherited in one of several patterns depending on the location of the gene (for example, chromosomes 1-22 or X and Y) and whether one or two normal copies of the gene are needed for normal protein activity. There are five basic modes of inheritance for single-gene diseases: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive, and mitochondrial.
Genetic diseases caused by chromosomal abnormalities are generally not inherited, but usually occur as random events during the formation of reproductive cells. Below is a sample pedigree of each type of inheritance pattern and overview of family history patterns:
[edit] See Also
- Chromosomes in Cells
- Genetic Mapping of Single Gene Disorders
- Genetic Mapping of Complex Conditions
- Single Gene Disorders
NCHPEG-Principles of Genetics for Health Professionals - See this entry for a succinct listing of NCHPEG's important principles in genetics.
[edit] References
Genetic Allaince. 2007. Understanding Genetics: A Guide for Patients and Health Care Professionals. http://www.geneticalliance.org/ws_display.asp?filter=understanding.genetics.download
[edit] External Links
Department of Energy, Human Genome Project Education Resources. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/education/education.shtml
National Library of Medicine, Genetics Home Reference–Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=OMIM
