Introduction to genetics: Difference between revisions

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Some diseases are hereditary and run in families; others, such as [[infectious disease]]s, are caused by the environment. Other diseases come from a combination of genes and the environment.<ref>[http://www.genome.gov/19016930 requently Asked Questions About Genetic Disorders] NIH, Accessed 20 May 2008</ref> [[Genetic disorder]]s are diseases that are caused by a single allele of a gene and are inherited in families. These include [[Huntington's disease]], [[Cystic fibrosis]] or [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy]]. Cystic fibrosis, for example, is caused by mutations in a single gene called ''[[CFTR (gene)|CFTR]]'' and is inherited as a recessive trait.<ref>[http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cysticfibrosis Cystic fibrosis] Genetics Home Reference, NIH, Accessed 16 May 2008</ref>

Other diseases are influenced by genetics, but the genes a person gets from their parents only change their risk of getting a disease. Most of these diseases are inherited in a complex way, with either multiple genes involved, or coming from both genes and the environment. As an example, the risk of [[breast cancer]] is 50 times higher in the families most at risk, compared to the families least at risk. This variation is probably due to a large number of alleles, each changing the risk a little bit.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Peto J |title=Breast cancer susceptibility&nbsp;– A new look at an old model |journal=Cancer Cell |volume=1 |issue=5 |pages=411–2 |date=June 2002 |pmid=12124169 |doi=10.1016/S1535-6108(02)00079-X |issn=1535-6108|doi-access=free }}</ref> Several of the genes have been identified, such as ''[[BRCA1]]'' and ''[[BRCA2]]'', but not all of them. However, although some of the risks are genetic, the risk of this cancer is also increased by being overweight, heavy alcohol consumption and not exercising.<ref>[http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_5.asp What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429042057/http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_5.asp |date=29 April 2009 }} American Cancer Society, Accessed 16 May 2008</ref> A woman's risk of breast cancer, therefore, comes from a large number of alleles interacting with her environment, so it is very hard to predict.

==Genetic engineering==