First Things First
Go here: http://www.dnalc.org/
I encourage all of you to poke around on this website. It has some really interesting articles.
I encourage all of you to poke around on this website. It has some really interesting articles.
Is there a genetic cause for ADD/ADHD?
From the website http://www.dnalc.org/view/1229-ADHD-Genes.html
“We know from studies of identical twins and from family members that if one family member has ADHD, as it is called, there’s a greater risk for developing ADHD in other family members - brothers and sisters etc. We know that there is a heritable component to it – meaning that there is some risk at the genetic level. However we do know, from the same genetic studies that there is a much heavier, much larger influence of environment and experience on ADHD.”
“We know from studies of identical twins and from family members that if one family member has ADHD, as it is called, there’s a greater risk for developing ADHD in other family members - brothers and sisters etc. We know that there is a heritable component to it – meaning that there is some risk at the genetic level. However we do know, from the same genetic studies that there is a much heavier, much larger influence of environment and experience on ADHD.”
Twins? What does this mean Mr. C?
Well twin studies are REALLY popular/important because they allow scientists to reduce the number of variables and have a good control group. Twins (NOT fraternal twins) are genetically identical so it can be assumed any differences in their mental makeup are due to "nurture" rather than "nature".
Is there a genetic cause for Diabetes?
From the American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. You inherit a predisposition to the disease then something in your environment triggers it.
Genes alone are not enough. One proof of this is identical twins. Identical twins have identical genes. Yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other gets the disease at most only half the time. When one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other's risk is at most 3 in 4.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. You inherit a predisposition to the disease then something in your environment triggers it.
Genes alone are not enough. One proof of this is identical twins. Identical twins have identical genes. Yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other gets the disease at most only half the time. When one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other's risk is at most 3 in 4.
Can you answer my question the easy way?
If you want it spoon-fed to you click where it says, "Read More" in green. It should be right about HERE!
So to answer your questions, it seems that with all of these cases there is a genetic link (nature), but also an environmental link (nurture). There is no easy answer and there is no single gene that will tell you if you will get ADHD or Diabetes.
Can I see all of this with a Karyotype?
No, karyotyping has limits.
What does a Karyotype Show?
What a Karyotype does not show?
What does a Karyotype Show?
- Check if the 46 chromosomes are present
- Check the presence of the two identical chromosomes and 2 sex chromosomes
- Check if there are any missing or rearranged chromosomes
What a Karyotype does not show?
- Presence and location of small mutations. So if diseases are caused by small mutations they cannot be predicted
- Individual DNA strands or genes
- The number of genes in any given area of a chromosome
- Things like Diabetes, ADHD or Hermaphroditic characteristics.