Chapter 5: Genes, Environment-Lifestyle, and Common Diseases

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 5 of the lecture notes on the genetic and environmental factors influencing common diseases.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase an individual's chance of developing a disease, such as age, gender, diet, lifestyle, exercise, and family history.

Relative Risk (RR)

The ratio of the rate of a disease among individuals exposed to a risk factor to the incidence rate of the disease among individuals not exposed to that risk.

Incidence Rate

The number of new cases of a disease reported during a specific period divided by the number of individuals in the population.

Prevalence Rate

The proportion of the population affected by a disease at a specific point in time.

Multifactorial Inheritance

A type of inheritance where multiple genes as well as environmental factors contribute to the variations in traits.

Threshold Model

A model that describes diseases which appear to be either present or absent, not following the inheritance patterns of single-gene diseases.

Empirical Risks

Risks based on direct observation of data; used in the determination of recurrence risks for multifactorial diseases.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding the relative influence of genetics (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) on individual traits and diseases.

Monozygotic (MZ) Twins

Identical twins who are natural clones sharing the same genetic material.

Dizygotic (DZ) Twins

Fraternal twins who are derived from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm.

Adoption Studies

Research involving children born to parents with a disease who are then adopted by parents without the disease, providing insight into genetic influences on disease.

Congenital Malformations

Congenital diseases that are present at birth and often caused by multifactorial inheritance.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A multifactorial disorder characterized by potential myocardial infarction caused by coronary atherosclerosis.

Hypertension (HTN)

A condition that is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Breast Cancer

Cancer that affects 12% of American women, increasing in risk significantly with family history, especially in first-degree relatives.

Type 1 Diabetes

An autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, requiring lifelong insulin treatment.

Type 2 Diabetes

The most common form of diabetes characterized by insulin resistance and influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors.

Alzheimer Disease (AD)

A progressive neurological disorder leading to dementia and memory loss, with certain genetic variations increasing risk.

Schizophrenia

A psychiatric disorder with a significantly increased recurrence risk in relatives, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Bipolar Affective Disorder

Also known as manic depressive disorder, where the risk is elevated in individuals with a family history.