polygenic disease
Definition
Noun: A polygenic disease is an inherited disorder or medical condition whose occurrence and expression are influenced by multiple genes, often in combination with environmental factors. Unlike single-gene disorders, these diseases do not follow simple Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
Usage
The term is used in medical genetics and biology to describe a class of complex, common diseases where genetic predisposition arises from the combined small effects of variations in many genes. * Heart disease and type 2 diabetes are classic examples of a polygenic disease. * Researchers are studying the genetic architecture of this polygenic disease to identify risk factors.
Advanced Usage
- "Polygenic risk score (PRS)": A numerical score that estimates an individual's genetic liability for a polygenic disease, based on the combined effect of many genetic variants.
- Her high polygenic risk score indicated a greater genetic predisposition to the condition.
Variants and Related Words
- Multifactorial disease/disorder (n): A closely related term emphasizing that the disease is caused by the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors. It is often used synonymously with "polygenic disease," though it explicitly includes non-genetic influences.
- Cleft palate is considered a multifactorial disorder.
- Complex disease (n): A broad category for diseases with genetic and environmental causes, which includes polygenic diseases.
- Most common chronic illnesses are complex diseases.
Synonyms
- Complex genetic disorder
- Multigenic disorder
Antonyms
- Monogenic disease (n): An inherited disease caused by a mutation in a single gene (e.g., cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease).
- Sickle cell anemia is a monogenic disease, in contrast to schizophrenia which is polygenic.
- Single-gene disorder (n): Synonym for monogenic disease.
Noun
-
an inherited disease controlled by several genes at once
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