Heredity, also referred to as biological inheritance or inheritance, represents the process of passing on specific characteristics to the offspring from their parents because of the similar genetic composition. In terms of the biological approach to heredity, it pertains to the relationship between a particular trait with the organism’s genetic constitution instead of environmental factors that may influence its development (Saladin, 2020). Genetics, which is the study of genes and heredity, has been exploring the effects of genetic makeup among people and animals in the development of particular diseases. As a research field, genetics plays a crucial role in denoting the potential targets for therapeutic interventions, including understanding the response of genetic variations to treatment.
Since the study of genetics is quite abundant, new findings are made regularly. For example, a recent study carried out during the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Million Veteran Program found that an individual’s height, which is hereditary, may influence the risk for several health issues in adulthood (Raghavan et al., 2022). Specifically, being tall meant lower risks of cardiovascular health risks, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. However, taller people were more likely to have higher risks for atrial fibrillation (Raghavan et al., 2022). Besides, being tall may increase the risk of “peripheral neuropathy and circulatory disorders involving the veins” (Raghavan et al., 2022, para. 2). The latest stem cell study dated June 2022 revealed a detailed genetic roadmap of glaucoma, which could help researchers develop innovative drugs to combat the disease by identifying specific target areas allowing to reverse or stall the loss of vision (Daniszewski et al., 2022). Gene profiling has allowed researchers to implement RNA sequencing to look at each cell individually, thus creating a detailed ‘map’ showing which cell must be targeted to address glaucoma.
More research in genetics has allowed us to distinguish between different types of inheritance, which show how genes get passed down and what genetic variations occur as a result. According to the classic theory of Mendelian genetics that studied patterns of inheritance, the types include mitochondrial, X-linked dominant and recessive, and autosomal dominant and recessive (Hindorff, 2022). The presence of different types of inheritance suggests that there are dominant and recessive modes that influence the formation of certain traits in individuals. The HLA-DQ can serve as a good example of this. It is an autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant gene, depending on the type of mutation, which is present in people with Celiac disease, which has made the clarification of uncertain diagnosis much easier through genetic screening (Sciurti et al., 2018). Thus, not all genetic studies will tell for certain whether a disease has been inherited; however, genetics allow for more certainty in diagnoses.
The study of heredity and genetics is a diverse and multi-dimensional area of research that has allowed for the detailed exploration of disease development and the formulation of treatment mechanisms. It should be noted that genetics remains a fascinating area of study because not every genetic trait is easily observable and traceable, and characteristics are occurring so rarely that new variants are discovered regularly. Overall, it is unlikely that genetic studies will ever seize because researchers have ample opportunities to study gene variations and their relationships to disease, which allows the development of medication targeting specific health concerns.
References
Daniszewski, M., Senabouth, A., Liang, H. H., Han, X., Lidgerwood, G. E., Hernández, D. … Hewitt, A. W. (2022). Retinal ganglion cell-specific genetic regulation in primary open-angle glaucoma. Cell Genomics, 2(6). Web.
Hindorff, L. (2022). Mandelian Inheritance. Web.
Raghavan, S., Huang, J., Tcheandjieu, C., Huffman, J. E., Litkowski, E., Liu, C. … Assimes, T. L. (2022). A multi-population phenome-wide association study of genetically-predicted height in the Million Veteran Program. PLOS Genetics, 18(6). Web.
Saladin, K. (2020). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (9th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Sciurti, M., Fornaroli, F., Gaiani, F., Bonaguri, C., Leandro, G., Di Mario, F., & De’ Angelis, G. L. (2018). Genetic susceptibilty and celiac disease: What role do HLA haplotypes play? Acta Bio-Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 89(9-S), 17-21. Web.