About half of the Australian population will be affected at some point in their life by a condition that is at least partly genetic in origin. Scientists estimate that more than 10, conditions are caused by changes in single genes. Having a genetic susceptibility to a condition does not mean that you will develop the condition. It means that you are at increased risk of developing it if certain environmental factors, such as diet or exposure to chemicals, trigger its onset. If these triggering conditions do not occur, you may never develop the condition.
Some types of cancer are triggered by environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle. For example, prolonged exposure to the sun is linked to melanoma. Avoiding such triggers means significantly reducing the risks. Related parents are more likely than unrelated parents to have children with health problems or genetic conditions. This is because the two parents share one or more common ancestors and so carry some of the same genetic material.
If both partners carry the same inherited gene change, their children are more likely to have a genetic condition. Related couples are recommended to seek advice from a clinical genetics service if their family has a history of a genetic condition. If a family member has been diagnosed with a genetic condition, or if you know that a genetic condition runs in your family, it can be helpful to speak to a genetic counsellor.
Genetic counsellors are health professionals qualified in both counselling and genetics. As well as providing emotional support, they can help you to understand a genetic condition and what causes it, how it is inherited if it is , and what a diagnosis means for you and your family. Genetic counsellors are trained to provide information and support that is sensitive to your family circumstances, culture and beliefs.
Genetic services in Victoria provide genetic consultation, counselling, testing and diagnostic services for children, adults, families, and prospective parents. They also provide referral to community resources, including support groups, if needed.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The characteristic features of Angelman syndrome are not always obvious at birth, but develop during childhood. Latest research suggests that most cancers are caused by environmental rather than genetic factors. Folic acid taken before conception, and during at least the first four weeks of pregnancy, can prevent around seven out of 10 cases of neural tube defects.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is the most common inherited disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. Most cleft palates and cleft lips can be repaired so that appearance and speech develop normally. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Genetic conditions. Home Genetic conditions. Genes and genetics explained. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.
On this page. Chromosomes How we inherit characteristics Dominant and recessive genes Co-dominant genes Gene changes in cells Genetic conditions Genes and genetics — related parents Genetic counselling and testing Where to get help. Chromosomes Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in each cell of their body, made up of 22 paired chromosomes and two sex chromosomes. How we inherit characteristics Parents pass on traits or characteristics, such as eye colour and blood type, to their children through their genes.
Because these variants have very serious effects, they are incompatible with life. All people, including those without cystic fibrosis, have a version of the CFTR gene. Other chapters in Help Me Understand Genetics. Genetics Home Reference has merged with MedlinePlus. Learn more. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
How can gene variants affect health and development? From Genetics Home Reference. Maximum likelihood-based variance component methods were used to determine the heritability of each parameter and to examine the relationships between growth parameters and adult health outcomes by estimating genetic correlations between the traits. Heritability estimates for the growth parameters are generally high and statistically significant ranging in magnitude from 0.
Heritabilities for adult health outcomes are also significant ranging from 0. Results of the phenotypic correlation analysis show that stature growth parameters are significantly related to several adult health outcomes including stature, weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, percent body fat, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass in the arms and legs, and total body bone mass.
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