Genetic Influences

For centuries, we have known that our genetic makeup makes us who we are today. We see it in our everyday lives when we have encounters with friends and peers as well as notice some similarities that we have with our own parents, siblings, or other family members. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary online (n.d.), a gene is “a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is located usually on a chromosome and that is the functional unit of inheritance controlling the transmission and expression of one or more traits.” Obviously, both genes and the environment contributes to the way we think, feel, and act and there is no question that both are needed in shaping every individual. However, scientists have been studying the effect

There are numerous genetic disorders that our society can suffer from but usually are very rare and affect only one out of thousands or millions. When we think of genetic disorders, the term genetic allows to think about genes – a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring – therefore, making us believe that because a certain disorder or condition is considered genetic, it must mean that we are destined to be diagnosed with it just because our parents have it. Actually, genetic disorders may or may not be passed down from a parent’s genes. These disorders are called non-heritable genetic disorders that are caused by new mutations or changes in the DNA. Some examples of non-heritable genetic disorders are; Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Williams

There is no one gene singled out to be the cause of ADHD but specific gene studies have linked certain genes, like dopamine D4 and dopamine D5, to be affiliated in the cause of this disorder. Having a family member with ADHD makes you more likely to also have the disorder. Children who have ADHD typically have a parent, sibling, or other close relative with ADHD. According to the National Institutes of Health, one third of fathers who have or had ADHD will have children who will be diagnosed with