The completion of the Human Genome Project has enabled the development of diet plans based on the genetics of an individual. A genetic diet is not a specific diet; rather, it is a type of diet that uses an individual’s unique genetic...
Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder characterized by the destruction of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. Symptoms present in adulthood with the onset most frequently occurring during the third or fourth decade of life. Early...
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are those organisms whose genetic material or DNA has been deliberately altered to incorporate genes from another species. According to the Human Genome Project, GMOs are designed to confer certain...
Iron is an essential nutrient the human body needs to make oxygen-carrying proteins found in red blood cells. Although iron deficiencies can cause health problems, iron consumed in excess can be toxic or even fatal. Iron toxicity caused by...
Xanthomas, xanthelasmas and fatty deposits are all cholesterol spots, a sign of familial hypercholesterolemia, which simply means you have high cholesterol because of your genetic makeup. People with familial hypercholesterolemia may have...
Proteins are large molecules comprising many molecules, including amino acids. They are abundant in nature, and can be found in every living cell. According to the Recombinant Antibody website, the characteristics of all organisms are determined...
Lymphoproliferative disease also is known as Castleman disease. Castleman disease means your lymphatic system grows lymphatic cells that are of unusual size. The disease also may be referred to as angilfollicular lymph node hyperplasia or just...
Cancer of any form is the result of genetic mutations that occur in previously normal cells. It takes many different genetic mutations to turn a normal cell into a cancerous cell. These genetic changes may occur as a result of mutations that can...
DNA testing "can provide information for diagnosing, treating and preventing illness," according to the Mayo Clinic. Screenings can help find genetic disorders before the symptoms of the disorder occur, in adults and fetuses. A blood sample is...
Cholesterol pockets are fatty skin deposits that develop for a number of reasons, the primary cause being high levels of cholesterol in your blood. There are two main types of cholesterol pockets -- xanthomas and xanthelasmas. The type depends on...
The most common causes of high cholesterol are obesity, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. In rare cases, however, the condition is inherited, affecting your low-density lipoprotein -- LDL -- cholesterol levels, and is known as...
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease characterized by delusions, hallucinations and difficulty distinguishing between reality and imagination. Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disorder triggered by gluten, proteins found in...
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, affects an average of one in 110 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is four to five times more likely to affect boys than than girls and occurs in...
Sometimes a genetic mutation will cause an irregular protein to form, which can lead to significant health problems. One such disorder, known as Huntington's disease, results in the death of brain cells that control movement throughout the body....
Cholesterol is made by your liver or obtained from your food. Regardless of the source, high levels of cholesterol in your bloodstream increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Many of the things you do contribute to high...
Although a blood test is the best way to check cholesterol levels, an eye exam may also indicate high cholesterol levels, or hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol accumulates in the cornea of the eye, according to an article in the 1996 "Journal of...
A study published in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health" showed that even small amounts of tobacco, whether inhaled or not, can cause many health problems. The National Cancer Institute claims the only way to reduce risk of...
Protein deficiency diseases are conditions resulting in low levels of particular proteins. The cause of protein deficiency diseases is often genetic, meaning that a person inherits a faulty or missing gene from a parent. There are several...
The scientists of the Human Genome Project estimate that all humans have approximately 20,000 to 25,000 genes, each containing the biological recipe for a different protein. The distinct shapes of various proteins enable them to perform specific...
The skin, the largest organ in the body, protects the internal organs, prevents water loss, controls body temperature and provides sensory input. Skin contains three distinct layers. The outer layer, known as the epidermis, consists of three main...
Vitamins are substances your body needs in small amounts but does not have the cellular machinery to produce. By definition, you need vitamins for normal body functioning. Not consuming enough vitamins in your diet causes deficiencies. Various...
Brittle bone disease is a genetic disorder, medically termed osteogenesis imperfecta, that has several types ranging from mild to severe. The National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases explains that this disease is...
The transport of oxygen throughout the body requires a protein called hemoglobin. Thalassemia describes a range of genetic disorders that cause poor hemoglobin function. Thalassemias are hereditary, which mean that they run in families. In some...
The National Human Genome Research Institute reports that newborn screenings are the most widespread type of genetic testing. All states are required to screen for at least 21 disorders, but some states test for even more. The positive side to...
People consider having genetic testing done for several reasons. People who have a family history of a genetic disease, couples planning to get pregnant and pregnant women concerned about genetic anomalies in their baby may all consider genetic...
Genetic diseases are those that are passed down from parent to child through defective genes. Genes are the units of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) that carry the code for a specific trait. Defects in genes that code for specific proteins and...
A GMO, or Genetically Modified Organism, is an animal, plant or bacteria that has had its genetic make-up altered. Gene modification is designed to improve the quality and nutrition of the organism, and increase the maturation and yield, according...
High cholesterol can pose a great health risk if it's not treated promptly and properly. Your doctor uses the results of your lipid profile, or cholesterol test, to devise your treatment plan if your cholesterol levels are too high. He is not the...
Cholesterol and white spots have one thing in common -- familial hypercholesterolemia. Although high cholesterol has no symptoms, familial hypercholesterolemia is the exception. This condition is inherited, one that passes a mutant gene down...