autosomal dominant disorder

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Understanding "Autosomal Dominant Disorder"

Definition: An "autosomal dominant disorder" is a type of disease that is caused by a change (mutation) in a gene located on one of the non-sex chromosomes (called autosomes). When only one copy of this mutated gene is inherited from a parent, it can cause the disorder to develop in a person.

Key Points to Understand:

1. Autosomes: These are the chromosomes that are not involved in determining the sex of a person. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes.

2. Dominant Gene: This means that if a person has one copy of the mutated gene (from either their mother or father), they can develop the disorder. It does not require both parents to pass on the gene.

3. Disorder: This refers to a medical condition that can affect a person's health, development, or well-being.

Example:

• Example Sentence: "Huntington's disease is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder, which means if one parent has the gene, there is a 50% chance their child will also have the disease."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical genetics, understanding autosomal dominant disorders helps in predicting the risk of these diseases being passed on in families.

Word Variants:

• Autosomal (adjective): Relating to autosomes.
• Dominant (adjective): Referring to a gene that can determine a trait even if only one copy is present.
• Disorder (noun): A disruption to regular bodily or mental functions.

Different Meanings:

While "autosomal dominant disorder" has a specific meaning in genetics, the individual words can have other meanings: - Autosomal can refer to any of the non-sex chromosomes. - Dominant can also refer to something that is more powerful or influential in a general sense. - Disorder can mean any kind of irregularity or disturbance, not just in health (e.g., a disorder in a system).

Synonyms:

• Genetic disorder: A broad term that includes all types of diseases caused by genetic mutations.
• Inherited disorder: A term that can refer to any disease passed down from parents to children, though it doesn't specify how it's inherited.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "autosomal dominant disorder." However, here are a couple of phrases that might be relevant in conversations about genetic conditions:

Usage Instructions:

When talking about genetic conditions, it's important to use "autosomal dominant disorder" when you specifically mean a condition that is inherited from just one parent and affects the person who inherits the gene. You might use this term in discussions about medical history, genetics, or family health.

Summary:

An "autosomal dominant disorder" is a health condition that arises when a person inherits a mutated gene from just one parent.

Academic

Noun

1. a disease caused by a dominant mutant gene on an autosome

Synonyms

• autosomal dominant disease