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A genetic disorder is a disease that is caused by an abnormality in an individual's DNA. Abnormalities can range from a small mutation in a single gene to the addition or subtraction of an entire chromosome or set of chromosomes. To learn more about different genetic disorders, browse through the Genetic Disorder Library by clicking on THIS LINK.

How do we get mutations in our genes?

We can get mutations in several ways:
1. Mutations can be inherited, or passed from parent to child. This type of mutation is called a germline mutation.

2. Mutations that arise sporadically throughout our lifetime (in non-sex cells) are called somatic mutations. Most of the time, our cells are very good at fixing somatic mutations when they occur. In the rare instances when they are not repaired, a medical condition may result.

3. A third type of mutation, called a novel germline mutation, is a combination of a somatic and an inherited mutation. The novel germline mutation arises in a parent's germ cell - either the father's sperm cell or the mother's egg cell. The child conceived through the union of sperm and egg carries the novel germline mutation.

Posted by Ms. Larkin