The Science of Hereditary Diseases
Diseases that pass down from parent to children are known as hereditary diseases. Many of these diseases occur in families. The genetic mutation that causes a disease in one person can be passed along to their offspring, who may then pass the disease on to their children.
Some hereditary diseases result from genetic mutations that affect the genes themselves, and others are passed from parent to child through the genes, passed from parent to baby in a process called inheritance. For example, your parents may have had Huntington’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, or sickle-cell anemia, but you do not have them. Nonetheless, individuals suffering from Hereditary diseases could take the required assistance from a genetic counselor or a doctor specialist in the field.
The Primary Source Of Hereditary Diseases?
Over the past decade, the human genome has become the primary source of knowledge about how our bodies work. But the limitations of a single genetic sequence have led scientists to investigate other genes and genetic sequences that play an essential role in human health and disease. One such gene is known as a haplotypic variant, which is a single letter change in the sequence of DNA. While these single-letter changes are often not passed on to future generations, they can significantly impact an individual’s health and well-being.
Most of us have at least one relative who is affected by a hereditary disease. For example, you might have a first-degree relative — a parent, sibling, or child — who has either inherited the disease or been affected by the disease. Or you might have a second-degree relative, a parent or grandparent who has also been affected by the disease. For example, a parent might have a child with an inherited disease such as Huntington’s disease, or a parent might have a child with a genetic disorder such as Down syndrome.
What Are The Common Types Of Hereditary Disease?
- Down Syndrome
Normally, each cell’s nucleus has 23 chromosomes, but Down syndrome develops when the 21st chromosome is duplicated twice in all or some cells. Prenatal screening procedures, such as blood tests, are widely performed by nurse practitioners and physicians to identify levels of chromosomal material and other compounds in a mother’s blood. This type of testing can predict whether or not a kid will be born with Down syndrome with a high degree of accuracy. When a person is diagnosed with this condition, they are likely to have cognitive deficits ranging from mild to severe. The condition is also characterized by a higher proclivity for congenital cardiac problems, decreased muscular tone, shorter stature, and an upward slant to the eyes.
- Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that decrease the natural quantity of hemoglobin a person can make. This disorder prevents oxygen from reaching all parts of the body. Children who inherit the Thalassemia gene from both parents have a 25% risk of being born with Thalassemia. The people living in Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Northern African countries are most likely carriers of the defective gene that causes Thalassemia.
- Sickle Cell Disease
The mutations in the genes that encode hemoglobin cause sickle cell disease, and an aberrant hemoglobin molecule causes the sickle shape of red blood cells. Chronic anemia develops as a result of the condition and considerable damage to the heart, lungs, and kidneys. According to the center for disease control and prevention, Sickle Disease affects over 100,000 Americans yearly.
- Hemophilia
It is a condition that causes abnormal bleeding due to a lack of blood coagulation. It is most common in men. The hemophilia gene is found on the X chromosome, which is responsible for gender. Males inherit only one copy of the X chromosome since they have an X and a Y chromosome (from their mother). As a result, if their mother carries the defective gene, they are more likely to inherit hemophilia. Females have two X chromosomes (one from their mother and the other from their father), one of which is usually normal. This suggests that most women with the gene mutation are carriers but do not show symptoms of the condition.
Does Ancestral Trauma Also Cause Hereditary Diseases?
Ancestral trauma is associated with an increased risk for mental and emotional health problems, and it can also contribute to hereditary health problems such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
We each have traits that can be passed down through families in which unconscious behaviors are also included (generational trauma). For some of us, these traits are not noticeable. For others, these traits can lead to a host of problems that, if not treated timely, can become a reason for many diseases, and that is called psychosomatic effects. A person’s genes have been passed down from their parents, and these genes affect how we think, behave, and feel. The body is a complex machine, which is why we have various hereditary diseases, including traumas embodied in every child.
What To Do If Hereditary Disease Runs In Your Family?
Your genes play a significant influence in determining who you are. You are likely to share qualities like hair type or athletic ability because you inherit your genes from your parents. “Sadly, we can inherit ‘changes’ in DNA from our mother or father, which might raise the risk of acquiring an inherited disease like cancer.
A disease that appears to “run in the family” affects several families. But when should you be concerned about it?
If you suspect that a member of your family or a friend may be at risk for a genetic disease, you must consult a doctor who might recommend you to take the following actions based on your family’s history.
- Changes to your surroundings, lifestyle, and diet can help you live healthier.
- Disease screenings should be done earlier and more frequently.
- Counseling on genetics.