Question | Answer |
Genetics | The study of how genes are transferred from the parents to their children and the role of genes in health and science |
Geneticist | Specialist in the field of genetics |
Genetic Engineering | Research to identify defective genes and to develop gene therapy to treat or replace these faulty genes |
Genetic Mutation | Changes that occur within genes |
Somatic Cell Mutation | Change within the cells of the body that affect the individual but cannot be transmitted to the next generation. |
Gametic Cell Mutation | Change within the genes found in the gametes (sperm or ovum) that can be transmitted by parents to their children. |
Genetic Disorders | AKA Hereditary Disorders; diseases or conditions caused by a defective gene - transmitted by the parent |
Cystic Fibrosis | Genetic disorder of the exocrine gland. |
Down Syndrome | AKA Trisomy 21; Down's Syndrome Genetic syndrom characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and multiple physical abnormalities |
Hemophilia | A group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which one of the factors needed to clot the blood is missing. Transmitted (passed) from mother to son. |
Huntington's Disease (HD) | AKA Huntington's choria (HC) Hereditary disorder with symptoms that first appear in midlife and cause the irreversible and progressive loss of muscle control and mental ability. |
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) | A group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness of muscle fibers |
Phenylketonuria | Genetic Disorder in which an essential digestive enzyme is missing; detected by blood test at birth; if not detected causes severe mental retardation |
Sickle Cell Anemia | Genetic disorder caused by genes that produce abnormal hemoglobin in the red blood cells |
Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) | Hereditary disease marked by progressive physical degeneration, mental retardation, and early death. |
Congenital Disorder | Abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth and may be caused by a developmental disorder before birth, premature birth, or injuries during birth |
developmental disorder | may resuts in an anomaly or malformation such as the absence of a limb or the presence of an extra toe at birth |
Prenatal influences | The mother's health and the care she receives before delivery. |
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) | congenital disorder characterized by prenatal and postnatal physical and behavior traits including growth deficiencies and abnormalities, mental retardation, brain damage, and socialization difficulties |
Birth Injuries | congenital disorders that were not present before the events surrounding the time of birth EXAMPLE: Cerebral Palsy - caused by premature birth or be due to inadequate oxygen to the brain during birth |