Genetic Diseases, ACH-XER

Genetic diseases and disorders are caused by mutations in one or more genes. Genetic diseases are a major cause of disability and death.
Back To Genetic Diseases Page

Genetic Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title

achondroplasia
achondroplasia, genetic disorder characterized by an abnormality in the conversion of cartilage into bone. As a......
albinism
albinism, (from the Latin albus, meaning “white”), hereditary condition characterized by the absence of pigment......
Angelman syndrome
Angelman syndrome, rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. The syndrome is named for English physician......
Batten disease
Batten disease, rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that begins in childhood. The disease is named for British......
chromosomal disorder
chromosomal disorder, any syndrome characterized by malformations or malfunctions in any of the body’s systems,......
cleidocranial dysostosis
cleidocranial dysostosis, rare congenital, hereditary disorder characterized by collarbones that are absent or......
colour blindness
colour blindness, inability to distinguish one or more of the three colours red, green, and blue. Most people with......
cystic fibrosis
cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited metabolic disorder, the chief symptom of which is the production of a thick,......
deafness on Martha’s Vineyard
deafness on Martha’s Vineyard, phenomenon in which a disproportionate percentage of the population living on Martha’s......
dwarfism
dwarfism, condition of growth retardation resulting in abnormally short adult stature and caused by a variety of......
essential tremor
essential tremor, disorder of the nervous system characterized by involuntary oscillating movements that typically......
Fabry’s disease
Fabry’s disease, sex-linked hereditary disease in which a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A results......
fragile-X syndrome
fragile-X syndrome, a chromosomal disorder associated with a fragile site on the end of the X chromosome. The major......
Gaucher disease
Gaucher disease, rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by anemia, mental and neurologic impairment, yellowish......
hemoglobinopathy
hemoglobinopathy, any of a group of disorders caused by the presence of variant hemoglobin in the red blood cells.......
hemophilia
hemophilia, hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of a substance necessary for blood clotting (coagulation).......
Huntington disease
Huntington disease , a relatively rare, and invariably fatal, hereditary neurological disease that is characterized......
Hurler’s syndrome
Hurler’s syndrome, one of several rare genetic disorders involving a defect in the metabolism of mucopolysaccharides,......
inborn error of metabolism
inborn error of metabolism, any of multiple rare disorders that are caused by an inherited genetic defect and that......
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, hereditary metabolic disorder affecting the central nervous system and characterized by incoordination,......
marble bone disease
marble bone disease, rare disorder in which the bones become extremely dense, hard, and brittle. The disease progresses......
Marfan syndrome
Marfan syndrome, rare hereditary connective tissue disorder that affects most notably the skeleton, heart, and......
metachromatic leukodystrophy
metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), rare inherited metabolic disease in which the lack of a key enzyme causes loss......
microcephaly
microcephaly, congenital condition in which an infant’s head is smaller than the typical size for its age and sex.......
mitochondrial disease
mitochondrial disease, any of several hundred hereditary conditions that result from a functional failure of the......
multiple endocrine neoplasia
multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN), any of a group of rare hereditary disorders in which tumours occur in multiple......
muscular dystrophy
muscular dystrophy, hereditary disease that causes progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles.......
nail-patella syndrome
nail-patella syndrome, rare hereditary (autosomal dominant) disorder characterized by small fingernails and toenails......
neurofibromatosis
neurofibromatosis, either of two hereditary disorders characterized by distinctive skin lesions and by benign,......
Niemann-Pick disease
Niemann-Pick disease, inherited metabolic disorder in which a deficiency of the enzyme sphingomyelinase impairs......
Osler-Rendu-Weber disease
Osler-Rendu-Weber disease, hereditary disorder characterized by bleeding from local capillary malformations. In......
osteogenesis imperfecta
osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), rare hereditary disease of connective tissue characterized by brittle bones that......
periodic paralysis
periodic paralysis, any of the forms of a rare disorder that is characterized by relatively short-term, recurrent......
phenylketonuria
phenylketonuria (PKU), hereditary inability of the body to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylalanine......
polyglandular autoimmune syndrome
polyglandular autoimmune syndrome, either of two familial syndromes in which affected patients have multiple endocrine......
Pompe’s disease
Pompe’s disease, hereditary defect in the body’s ability to metabolize glycogen, resulting in a muscle disorder......
Prader-Willi syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare human genetic disorder characterized by weak muscle tone at birth, small stature,......
psoriasis
psoriasis, a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disorder. The most common type, called plaque psoriasis (psoriasis......
Rett syndrome
Rett syndrome, rare progressive neurological disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, autism-like......
Riley-Day syndrome
Riley-Day syndrome, an inherited disorder occurring almost exclusively in Ashkenazic Jews that is caused by abnormal......
sickle cell anemia
sickle cell anemia, hereditary disease that destroys red blood cells by causing them to take on a rigid “sickle”......
Tay-Sachs disease
Tay-Sachs disease, hereditary metabolic disorder that causes progressive mental and neurologic deterioration and......
thalassemia
thalassemia, group of blood disorders characterized by a deficiency of hemoglobin, the blood protein that transports......
tuberous sclerosis
tuberous sclerosis, autosomal dominant disorder marked by the formation of widespread benign tumors throughout......
vitiligo
vitiligo, patchy loss of melanin pigment from the skin. Though the pigment-making cells of the skin, or melanocytes,......
von Willebrand disease
von Willebrand disease, inherited blood disorder characterized by a prolonged bleeding time and a deficiency of......
xeroderma pigmentosum
xeroderma pigmentosum, rare, recessively inherited skin condition in which resistance to sunlight and other radiation......