Insights
Autosomal dominant inheritance – it’s all about the family
Feb 28, 2019
In autosomal dominant inheritance an affected individual has one copy of a mutant gene and one normal gene on a pair of autosomal chromosomes. (In contrast, autosomal recessive diseases require that the individual have two copies of the mutant gene.)

 

Individuals with autosomal dominant diseases have a 50% risk of passing the mutant gene and therefore the disorder on to their offspring.

 

Examples of autosomal dominant diseases include Huntington disease, neurofibromatosis, and polycystic kidney disease. Many genetic heart conditions are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.

Last modified: May 08, 2020