Gentic Factors That Affect Development Flashcards
What is a genetic predisposition?
A vulnerability to a certain condition that you inherit from either one or both of your biological parents
What is cystic fibrosis (disease)?
A genetic disorder that affects the lungs, digestive system and other organs causing thick sticky mucus to build up.
- Cause: faulty recessive gene which means both parents must be a carrier for their children to develop cystic fibrosis
- Symptoms: chronic cough, wheezing, difficult breathing and digestive issues
What is brittle bone disease?
A genetic disorder characterised by fragile bones that break easily
- Cause: mutations affecting collagen reproduction
- Symptoms: frequent bone fractures, short stature and bone pain
What is phenylketonuria (disease)?
A genetic disorder where the body can’t break down an amino acid called phenylalanine leading to a buildup which could damage the brain
- Cause: mutation
- Symptoms: if untreated it can lead to intellectual disability, seizures and behavioural problems
What is Huntington’s disease?
A genetic disorder that causes the gradual breakdown of nerve cells in the brain leading to movement, thinking and psychiatric problems.
- Cause: mutations
- Symptoms: uncontrolled movements, difficulty with thinking, memory and mood changes
What is Klinefelter syndrome?
A genetic condition where a male is born with an extra X chromosome (XXY instead of XY)
- Cause: occurs due to an extra X chromosome, leading to 47 chromosomes
- Symptoms: taller than average height, less muscle tone, infertility and learning difficulties
What is Down Syndrome?
A genetic condition where a person has an extra copy of chromosomes 21
- Cause: a third copy of chromosome 21
- Symptoms: intellectual disability, facial features and health issues like heat defects
What is Colour Blindness?
A condition where a person has difficulty distinguishing between certain colours
- Cause: defect in the cones of the eye that detect colour
- Symptoms: inability to tell the difference between certain colours
What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
A genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration
- Cause: mutation
- Symptoms: muscle weakness, difficulty walking, frequent falls and trouble with basic moment such as walking
What is Diabetes?
A condition where the body can’t control blood sugar levels properly.
- Cause: when body does not make enough insulin or does not use it properly
- Symptoms: feeing very thirsty, go to toilet and slow healing of cuts
- Types:
Type 1: body does not make insulin (often starts in childhood)
Type 2: body does not use insulin well (often linked to lifestyle)
What is High Blood Cholesterol?
When there is too much cholesterol (a type of fat) in the blood
- Cause: poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking or inherited from family
What is foetal alcohol syndrome?
A condition that happens when a baby is harmed because the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
- Cause: alcohol passes from the mother to the baby and damages the baby’s development
- Symptoms: learning difficulties, growth problems and facial differences such as small head and thin upper lip
