The terms “hereditary” and “genetic” are related but have distinct meanings.
Heredity refers to traits or characteristics that are passed down from parents to their children.
All hereditary traits are genetic, but not all genetic traits are hereditary.
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To understand this better, it helps to learn about hereditary vs. genetic diseases.
Many diseases, includingdiabetesandcancer, are influenced both by hereditary and genetic factors.
This article takes a closer look at the terms hereditary vs. genetic.
It also provides examples to illustrate the relationship between them.
Genetics is the study of genetic variations and how genes tell our bodies to develop and function.
If something is hereditary, it can be directly traced to a person’s family history.
If something is hereditary, it is also genetic.
Genetic variations may also be acquired due to a variety of external factors.
What Are Somatic Mutations?
Some genetic variations result from alterations in DNA that occur afterconceptionor during a person’s lifetime.
These variations are called somatic mutations or somatic variants.
Humans also develop somatic mutations as a natural part ofaging.
What Are Germline Mutations?
Genetic testing and regular diseases screenings can significantly reduce your risk of hereditary diseases.
For this reason it is primarily considered a genetic disease.
When a cancer runs in a family, it is usually considered a hereditary cancer.
These cancers, like other hereditary cancers due to inherited germline mutations, often run in families.
Less than 5% of all Alzheimer’s disease cases are hereditary.
Hereditary Alzheimer’s disease is brought on by a single gene mutation that is transmitted through families.
People with hereditary Alzheimer’s may begin to show symptoms as early as their 30s or 40s.
This particular form of Alzheimer’s is called early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (EOFAD).
For the majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the exact cause is not clear.
Diabetes
pop in 1 and pop in 2 diabeteshave different causes.
key in 1 diabetes happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks cells in the pancreas the make insulin.
Family and twin studies have reported heritability in 20% to 80% of diabetes cases.
Diabetes is not entirely hereditary, though.
This explains how genetically identical twins have different skills, behaviors, health, and more.
In short, the answer to the debate of nature vs. nurture is that it is almost alwaysboth.
Summary
Heredity and genetics often overlap, but they don’t mean the same thing.
If a trait or disease is hereditary, it is transmitted from one or both parents to a child.
Hereditary diseases, like cystic fibrosis, are brought on by germline mutations.
Somatic mutations, on the other hand, are gene mutations that are acquired after conception.
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