what are genetic disorders
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Genes are the basic unit of heredity. They hold the genetic information in the form of DNA which can be translated into useful proteins to carry out life processes. These genes undergo a mutation sometimes, which changes the instructions to formulate the protein, due to which the protein does not work properly. Such disorders are known as genetic disorders.
Some disorders are innate, i.e., present by birth, while others are acquired due to mutations in a particular gene.
The disorders can be categorized into two types, namely Mendelian Disorders, i.e., a disorder in a single gene, and Chromosomal Disorders, i.e., a mutation in the chromosomes, the chromosomes are either missing or duplicated.
Types of Genetic Disorders
Mendelian Disorder
These disorders occur due to mutations in a single gene and can be easily detected by pedigree analysis.
These disorders can be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, sex-linked dominant, sex-linked recessive, and mitochondrial.
The most common Mendelian disorders include:
cystic fibrosis (autosomal recessive),
hemophilia (sex-linked recessive),
albinism (autosomal recessive),
sickle cell anemia (autosomal recessive).
Chromosomal Disorder
These disorders are caused by any alteration in the number or structure of the chromosomes.
Sometimes the whole chromosome is gained or lost.
This type of disorder is usually fatal and affects many genes.
Some of the major chromosomal abnormalities are:
Down’s syndrome- the addition of a chromosome on chromosome 21,
Turner’s syndrome-absence of an X chromosome,
Kleinfelter’s syndrome-addition of an X chromosome, etc.