Genetic Factors that Affect Development

Genetics refers to the genes that are inherited, predominately from both sets of parents. These genes determine part of our physical makeup, such as our eye colour.

Genetic Predispositions to Conditions

Genetic predisposition refers to an increased likelihood of developing a disease as a result of an individual’s genetic makeup. This is the outcome of specific genetic variations that are usually inherited from a parent.

Genetic predisposition contributes to the likelihood of a disease developing and is not a direct cause of it.

Examples of genetic disorders include:

• Cystic Fibrosis
• Brittle Bone Disease
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Huntington’s Disease
• Kleinfelter Syndrome
• Down’s Syndrome