genetic test How a DNA Test Can Save a Life

Are you at risk for an inherited genetic test?

Our bodies are made up of cells and those cells are made up for chromosomes and each chromosome is made up of our DNA and our DNA is comprised of over 20,000 genes. Our genes determine all of our traits. A genetic disorder occurs when there is a mutation in your genes that alters your DNA.

While there are genetic mutations that occur over time on their own, there are also a number of genetic disorders that are inherited from your family.

There are always stories about how a disease has stricken a family generation over generation and taken lives too soon. There are a few ways a genetic disorder can be inherited.

Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern

Also known as monogenetic inheritance, this occurs when you have on mutated gene in your DNA sequence. This means that you only 50 percent chance of passing the disease onto your child. Some examples are:

  • Marfan syndrome
  • Huntington’s disease

Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern

To inherit the disease, there needs to be two cells that are mutated. Some examples are:

  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Sickle Cell Anemia

X-linked recessive inheritance pattern with carrier mother

This trait is affected by a mutated X-chromosome, so females need two mutated genes to inherit the disease while males need only one because they lack the second X-chromosome to override the recessive trait. Some examples are:

  • Fabry’s disease
  • Hunter’s syndrome
  • Color blindness
There are many stories of women and men who after finding out their siblings and loved ones have fallen to a disease that runs in the family, they take precautionary steps before the disease can progress. Some women go to the extreme of mastectomies or breast removal if they anticipate a very high chance of getting breast cancer.
A DNA Predisposition Test can look closely at your genome to determine whether you have a high chance of getting a certain disease.

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