Dictionary > Trinucleotide repeat disorder

Trinucleotide repeat disorder

Definition
noun, plural: trinucleotide repeat disorders
Any of a set of genetic disorders caused by trinucleotide repeats exceeding the stable threshold and expanding in successive generations (thus resulting in a non-Mendelian inheritance pattern)
Supplement
Non-Mendelian inheritance is a type of biological inheritance wherein the patterns of phenotypes do not accord with those as expected in Mendelian laws on inheritance. It includes extranuclear inheritance, gene conversion, infectious heredity, genomic imprinting, mosaicism, and trinucleotide repeat disorders.
Trinucleotide repeat disorder follows non-Mendelian inheritance. It results when the trinucleotide repeats exceed the stable threshold and expand in successive generations. Many of the trinucleotide repeat disorders show neurological or cognitive symptoms. Many of them show genetic anticipation, i.e. the severity of the disorder increases with each successive generation that inherits these repeats. This means that a parent with trinucleotide repeats may not demonstrate symptoms of a particular disease but the offspring may have a higher risk of exhibiting symptoms and may develop at an earlier age.
Fragile X syndrome, Huntington disease, myotonic dystrophy, and Machado-Joseph disease are examples of trinucleotide repeat disorders.
Also called:

  • trinucleotide repeat expansion disorder
  • triplet repeat expansion disorder
  • codon reiteration disorder

See also:

  • extranuclear inheritance
  • gene conversion
  • infectious heredity
  • genomic imprinting
  • mosaicism
  • maternal inheritance
  • mitochondrial disease
  • non-Mendelian inheritance
  • genotype


  • You will also like...

    Physiological Homeostasis
    Physiological Homeostasis

    Homeostasis is essential to maintain conditions within the tolerable limits. Otherwise, the body will fail to function p..

    "Cronopio dentiacutus", a prehistoric mammal (an illustration)
    Mammalian Ancestors

    Mammals are a diverse group of organisms, where most of them develop their offspring within the uterus of the mother. Ov..

    Neurology of Illusions
    Neurology of Illusions

    Illusions are the perceptions and sensory data obtained from situations in which human error prevents us from seeing the..

    Lentic community
    Freshwater Communities & Lentic Waters

    Lentic or still water communities can vary greatly in appearance -- from a small temporary puddle to a large lake. The s..

    Chemical composition of the body
    Chemical Composition of the Body

    The body is comprised of different elements with hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen as the major four. This tutorial..

    Plant Water Regulation
    Plant Water Regulation

    Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics