Definition
noun, plural: genetic disorders
A disorder caused by genetic abnormality
Supplement
A genetic disorder is a disorder caused by products expressed from a defective genome. It may involve one or more defective genes. Or, it may be due to defect in gene(s) that lead to the insufficiency of or the lack of product necessary for an apt metabolism. Genetic disorders affect only a small percentage of the population.
Genetic disorders may be heritable or non-heritable (acquired). A heritable genetic disorder is one in which the gene defect leading to a disorder is passed down from parent to offspring. The non-heritable type is caused by new changes in the gene(s) causing the disorder.
Examples of genetic disorder are Down syndrome (due to a non-disjunction of the 21st chromosome), Kleinfelter’s syndrome (from a nondisjunction of the X chromosome), cystic fibrosis (deletion on chromosome 7), hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, etc.
Genetic disorder is sometimes regarded as the same as genetic disease. The term disease though is associated with extrinsic factors, such as bacterial and viral infection, initiating it and maintained by it. A disorder is due to intrinsic factors, such as chromosomal or genetic abnormalities.
See also:
- gene
- heredity
- disorder
- chromosome
- Down syndrome
