PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE
Genetic conditions that are due to changes in a single gene can be inherited, or passed on in families, in different ways. Some conditions are inherited from both parents, others from a single parent and some can occur spontaneously as a new genetic event in a child. The links below will show you the main ways different conditions can be inherited through the generations.
Recessive inheritance
The role that each gene pair plays in our bodies is the same, but tiny differences in the code of our parents’ DNA result in subtle differences in us. In recessive conditionss both parents have the same subtle difference in a particular gene
Dominant inheritance
Although most genetic conditions involve inheriting a faulty gene from both parents, sometimes conditions are caused by inheriting a gene from just one parent
X-linked recessive inheritance
Genetic conditions with an X-linked recessive pattern of inheritance usually only affect boys. This is because they are caused by an altered gene carried on the X-chromosome.
