Genetic Disorders

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Genetic disorders are diseases caused when certain mutations occur in DNA. There are a wide range of genetic disorders that are each caused by different genes and each have very different symptoms. There are three kinds of genetic disorders: single-gene disorders, chromosome abnormalities, and multifactorial disorders. In this document we will cover the three types of genetic disorders, examples of each type, and possible treatment of particular disorders such as Huntington’s disease, Down syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Life on Earth relies on the mutation of DNA. Mutations allow organisms to evolve, making them healthier and more capable of surviving. While many mutations occur that help species to survive, there are also just as many mutations that do not help species survive. In some cases, organisms die because the mutation of their DNA makes it impossible for them to survive. For some species, mutations occur that do not help them to survive, but they still live. This could be the beginning of an inherited genetic disorder.

Genetic disorders are abnormalities of the human body, caused by mutations in DNA. These mutations are random unless caused by the environment. There are three categories of genetic disorders: single-gene disorders, chromosome abnormalities, and multifactorial disorders.

As said by Richard Twyman, “Single-gene disorders are caused by defects in one particular gene, and often have simple and predictable inheritance patterns (http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/, 2003).” Single-gene disorders usually cause symptoms by altering or changing the amount of a protein made by the mutated gene. Offspring of a parent with the mutated gene have a fifty percent chance of inheriting the mutated gene.

Huntington’s ...

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...milies. With the support of scientists, the government, the affected families, associations, and communities, we can improve affected individuals’ quality of life. We can not only help our current population, but help our future populations. With science we can change our world.

Works Cited

“Research.” Alzheimer’s Association. www.alz.org. 2006.

Reilly, Phillip R. The Strongest Boy in the World: How Genetic Information Is

Reshaping Our Lives. Cold Spring Harbor: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. 2006.

Shari Roan. Gene Therapy may reverse Down syndrome. Los Angeles Times. 2004.

“Single Gene Disorders.” The Human Genome. http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/. 2003.

Wellcome Trust.

Tingey, Carol. Down Syndrome. Boston: College-Hill. 1988.

“Understanding Genetic Disorders.” http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/. Genetic Science

Learning Center. University of Utah. 2006.

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