single-gene disorder

a disease or condition that is due to the presence of a single mutated gene. Generally, the single mutation causes a failure to synthesize a normally functioning enzyme that is required for a specific step in building body tissue or for a vital stage in the metabolism of a food component. Single-gene disorders are relatively rare (Huntington’s disease and sickle-cell disease are examples); instead, many diseases exhibit multifactorial inheritance and are also influenced by environmental factors.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

Hering–Breuer reflex

a nervous mechanism involved in normal breathing, with stimuli from sensory endings in lung tissue limiting inspiration and expiration. [Ewald Hering; Josef Breuer]