“Is it genetic?” is a question frequently asked by virtually everyone. From what biology classes from a few decades ago might suggest, this should be a simple answer. However, this could not be further from the truth. With our increasing understanding of genetics and the inheritance of disease, we continue to grow our appreciation of the profound complexities of medical genetics.
In this video, Dr. Tipton reviews the concept of genetic inheritance and two patterns of genetic inheritance.
An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance results in manifestation of disease if at least 1 of 2 alleles (gene copies inherited from parents) is abnormal. This is different from autosomal recessive disorders, which require both alleles to be abnormal for an individual to develop disease.
There are several other well-documented patterns of inheritance, e.g. X-linked, that are not discussed in this video.
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