Exclusive article by Lindsey Patterson at EMRIndustry
When you are suffering from a disease, it is natural to wonder if you inherited it and if the disease can be passed down to your children. Most diseases and disorders are spread by person-to-person contact and poor immunity systems. There are still a lot of diseases that are genetic. These stem from abnormalities in your genetic makeup. It can range from a small mutation from a single gene to a severe deformation of entire chromosomes. Environmental exposure can cause genetic mutation that can be passed to your children.
Heredity is built by your genes. You get your genetic makeup from your parents, and you will pass yours to your children. Genes contain DNA which is the framework for protein production in the body. Your body needs protein to do the necessary work in its cells. Protein acts like the maintenance department for your cells.
If there is a mutation in the cells, your genes can be affected. It can confuse the DNA instructions for protein. Sometimes, too much protein can be produced or none at all. This genetic mix-up creates a medical condition known as a genetic disorder. It is possible for you to get a gene mutation from your father, your mother, or both. You may also experience a mutation during your adult years that can affect the children you conceive. Here are the different types of genetic disorders:
Single Gene Mutation
This inheritance is also referred to as monogenetic or Mendelian inheritance. In these cases, only a single gene is mutated within your sequence of DNA. Scientists have labeled at least 6,000 of these monogenetic disorders. Out of every 200 births, at least one baby can be affected by a single gene mutation. The most familiar monogenetic diseases include sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, and Huntington’s disease. The mutated gene may be recessive, dominant, or X-linked. Although there are treatments that deal with some of the symptoms of monogenetic diseases, there are no cures.
Complex Inheritance
In some people’s genetic makeup, a number of genes can be affected. This can be caused by factors in the environment or multiple mutations. You may be suffering from one of these common complex inherited disorders: various types of cancer, arthritis, coronary disease, hypertension, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease. Obesity, which can be a factor in all of these disorders, is also a complex inherited disease. Some disorders, like shingles, are more likely to affect people who have close relatives with the disease, claims a report by MedicalNewsToday.com. Shingles treatment can ease the symptoms.
Mutated Chromosomes
In the nucleus of every cell in your body, a mixture of protein and DNA make chromosomes. According to the National Library of Medicine, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. They are responsible for carrying your genetic material. If you have an abnormality in the number of your chromosomes, you can get a disease. It is caused by the cells in your body not dividing properly.
A good example of an inherited disease from mutated chromosomes is Down’s syndrome. This disease affects the 21st chromosome and multiplies it by three. Other types of these diseases include Cri Du Chat syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome. Sometimes, parts of two chromosomes are exchanged and cause an inherited disease.
Mitochondrial inheritance
There are some inherited diseases that are caused by mitochondria mutations. The non-nuclear part of the mitochondria are affected. They are minute, rounded organisms that are responsible for cellular respiration. Mitochondria are contained in the cytoplasm of human, animal, and plant cells. There can be between 5 to 10 DNA pieces in each mitochondria. These types of inherited diseases are always passed down through the mother, since sperm cells do not keep their mitochondria during fertilization. Some examples of these disorders include optic atrophy (Leber’s disease), MELAS dementia, and myoclonic epilepsy.
If you have a parent or another close relative with a certain condition, you can speak with your doctor about it. The doctor can run tests to see if you have the disease or are prone to pass it on to your children. Some inherited disorders can be cured if caught in the early stages.
