You also can see genes at work if you think about all the many different breeds of dogs. They all have the genes that make them dogs instead of cats, fish, or people.
But those same genes that make a dog a dog also make different dog traits. So some breeds are small and others are big. Some have long fur and others have short fur. Dalmatians have genes for white fur and black spots, and toy poodles have genes that make them small with curly fur. You get the idea! Scientists are very busy studying genes.
They want to know which proteins each gene makes and what those proteins do. They also want to know what illnesses are caused by genes that don't work right. Genes that have been changed are called mutations.
Researchers think that mutations may be partly to blame for lung problems, cancer, and many other illnesses. Other illnesses and health problems happen when there are missing genes or extra parts of genes or chromosomes.
Some of these gene problems can be inherited from a parent. For example, take the gene that helps the body make hemoglobin say: HEE-muh-glow-bin. Hemoglobin is an important protein needed for red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
If parents pass on altered hemoglobin genes to their child, the child might only be able to make a type of hemoglobin that doesn't work properly.
This can cause a condition known as anemia say: uh-NEE-mee-uh , a condition in which a person has fewer healthy red blood cells. Sickle cell anemia is one kind of anemia that is passed on through genes from parents to children.
Parents with a changed CF gene can pass it on to their kids. People who have CF often have trouble breathing because their bodies make a lot of mucus say: MYOO-kus — the slimy stuff that comes out of your nose when you're sick — that gets stuck in the lungs.
People with CF need treatment throughout their lives to keep their lungs as healthy as possible. Gene therapy is a new kind of medicine — so new that scientists are still doing experiments to see if it works. It uses the technology of genetic engineering to treat a disease caused by a gene that has changed in some way. Related parents are more likely than unrelated parents to have children with health problems or genetic conditions.
This is because the two parents share one or more common ancestors and so carry some of the same genetic material. If both partners carry the same inherited gene change, their children are more likely to have a genetic condition. Related couples are recommended to seek advice from a clinical genetics service if their family has a history of a genetic condition. If a family member has been diagnosed with a genetic condition, or if you know that a genetic condition runs in your family, it can be helpful to speak to a genetic counsellor.
Genetic counsellors are health professionals qualified in both counselling and genetics. As well as providing emotional support, they can help you to understand a genetic condition and what causes it, how it is inherited if it is , and what a diagnosis means for you and your family. Genetic counsellors are trained to provide information and support that is sensitive to your family circumstances, culture and beliefs. Genetic services in Victoria provide genetic consultation, counselling, testing and diagnostic services for children, adults, families, and prospective parents.
They also provide referral to community resources, including support groups, if needed. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The characteristic features of Angelman syndrome are not always obvious at birth, but develop during childhood.
Latest research suggests that most cancers are caused by environmental rather than genetic factors. Folic acid taken before conception, and during at least the first four weeks of pregnancy, can prevent around seven out of 10 cases of neural tube defects. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is the most common inherited disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system.
Most cleft palates and cleft lips can be repaired so that appearance and speech develop normally. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Skip to main content. Genetic conditions. Home Genetic conditions. Genes and genetics explained. Actions for this page Listen Print.
Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Chromosomes How we inherit characteristics Dominant and recessive genes Co-dominant genes Gene changes in cells Genetic conditions Genes and genetics — related parents Genetic counselling and testing Where to get help. Chromosomes Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in each cell of their body, made up of 22 paired chromosomes and two sex chromosomes. How we inherit characteristics Parents pass on traits or characteristics, such as eye colour and blood type, to their children through their genes.
Examples of inheritance patterns include: autosomal dominant — where the gene for a trait or condition is dominant, and is on a non-sex chromosome autosomal recessive — where the gene for a trait or condition is recessive, and is on a non-sex chromosome X-linked dominant — where the gene for a trait or condition is dominant, and is on the X-chromosome X-linked recessive — where the gene for a trait or condition is recessive, and is on the X-chromosome Y-linked — where the gene for a trait or condition is on the Y-chromosome co-dominant — where each allele in a gene pair carries equal weight and produces a combined physical characteristic mitochondrial — where the gene for a trait or condition is in your mitochondrial DNA, which sits in the mitochondria powerhouse of your cells.
Eye colour The allele for brown eyes B is dominant over the allele for blue eyes b. Blood groups For blood groups, the alleles are A, B and O.
Basic genetics , Learn. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all genetic conditions. Children resemble their parents. Genes come in pairs. Genes don't blend. Some genes are dominant. Genetic inheritance follows rules. Genes are real things. All cells arise from pre-existing cells. Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two.
0コメント