genetic disorder

(noun)

An illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present prior to birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions.

Related Terms

Examples of genetic disorder in the following topics:

  • Biochemical Products of Recombinant DNA Technology

    • Recombinant DNA technology, apart from being an important tool of scientific research, has also played a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, especially those belonging to genetic disorders.

  • Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases

    • Primary immunodeficiencies are disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing, or does not function properly.
    • Most primary immunodeficiencies are genetic disorders; the majority are diagnosed in children under the age of one, although milder forms may not be recognized until adulthood.
    • In genetic immunodeficiency disorders, both T lymphocytes and often B lymphocytes—regulators of adaptive immunity—are dysfunctional or decreased in number.
    • Rather than predisposing for infections, most of the autoinflammatory disorders lead to excessive inflammation.
    • Describe primary immunodeficiency disorders and explain what treatment options are available

  • Applications of Genetic Engineering

    • Genetic engineering means the manipulation of organisms to make useful products and it has broad applications.
    • Example of a genetic engineering application in medicine: one of the earliest uses of genetic engineering in pharmaceuticals was gene splicing to manufacture large amounts of insulin, made using the cells of E. coli bacteria.
    • Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology.
    • Genetic engineering has produced a variety of drugs and hormones for medical use.
    • The evolving field of gene therapy involves manipulating human genes to treat or cure genetic diseases and disorders.

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders.
    • The disorder may also be referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), or several other terms.
    • Biological, genetic, infectious and psychological mechanisms have been proposed for the development and persistence of symptoms but the etiology of CFS is not understood and may have multiple causes.

  • Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

    • Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD) is a fatal neurological disorder which is caused by prions.
    • Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, or CJD, is a degenerative neurological disorder (brain disease) that is incurable and invariably fatal.
    • People can also acquire CJD genetically through a mutation of the gene that codes for the prion protein (PRNP).

  • Genetic Engineering in Animals

    • The purpose of genetic engineering in animals is to create animals with special characteristics.
    • Scientists are now capable of creating new species of animals by taking genetic material from one, or more, plants or animals, and genetically engineering them into the genes of another animal.
    • Genetically engineered animals are also created to help medical researchers in their quest to find cures for genetic disease, like breast cancer.
    • Despite this debate, the law in both the United States and in Europe, tends to support genetic engineering research and development by allowing genetically engineered animals to be patented.
    • Laboratory mice are genetically manipulated by deleting a gene for use in biomedical research.

  • Genetic Analysis

    • Genetic analysis is a growing field in microbiology that provides information about specific adaptations and the evolution of organisms.
    • Bacteria obey the laws of genetics and the central dogma of life.
    • DNA that carries genetic information is transcribed to RNA polypeptides, which are translated into protein.
    • -the genetic makeup) of a cell.
    • Genetic analysis of microbes allows the characterization of genes implicated in microbial pathogenesis.

  • Primary and Secondary Antibody Responses

    • Disorders of the immune system can result in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancer.
    • In humans, immunodeficiency can either be the result of a genetic disease such as severe combined immunodeficiency, acquired conditions such as HIV/AIDS, or the use of immunosuppressive medication.

  • Genetically Engineered Vaccines

    • Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology.
    • Genetic engineering alters the genetic makeup of an organism using techniques that remove heritable material, or that introduce DNA prepared outside the organism either directly into the host or into a cell that is then fused or hybridized with the host.
    • Genetically engineered viruses are being developed that can still confer immunity, but lack the infectious sequences.
    • The process of genetic engineering involves splicing an area of a chromosome, a gene, that controls a certain characteristic of the body.
    • The bacteria can continue to live a healthy life, though genetic engineering and human intervention has actively manipulated what the bacteria actually is.

  • Cancer Viruses

    • Transformation occurs when a virus infects and genetically alters a cell.
    • The tumor viruses or oncoviruses change cells by integrating their genetic material with the host cell's DNA .
    • In DNA viruses, the genetic material can be directly inserted into the host's DNA.
    • RNA viruses must first transcribe RNA to DNA and then insert the genetic material into the host cell's DNA.
    • Viral infections contribute to the process through genetic alteration.