Understanding Inherited Genetic Disorders

Our bodies are built using instructions carried in our genes, which we inherit from our parents. An inherited genetic disorder happens when there is a change in one of these instructions that is passed from parent to child. These conditions are not caused by anything a parent did or did not do.

Many people are healthy "carriers" of a changed gene without knowing it. When both parents carry the same change, there is a chance in each pregnancy that a child may inherit the condition. A simple blood test can identify carriers, and genetic counseling helps families understand what this means.