autosomal dominant

A pattern of Mendelian inheritance whereby an affected individual possesses one copy of a mutant allele and one normal allele. (In contrast, recessive diseases require that the individual have two copies of the mutant allele.) Individuals with autosomal dominant diseases have a 50-50 chance of passing the mutant allele and hence the disorder onto their children. Examples of autosomal dominant diseases include Huntington's disease, neurofibromatosis, achondroplasia (in some cases), and polycystic kidney disease.

Compare with autosomal recessive.

Related categories

• GENETICS AND HEREDITY
• HEALTH AND DISEASE

Source: National Human Genome Research Institute

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