 |  |  | What are genetic disorders?
A genetic disorder is any disease that is caused by an abnormality in the genome of an individual. The normal function of a gene is to carry the genetic code for a single protein, not to cause illness. Disease occurs when a gene or its product (protein) is unable to work properly. For example, the hemochromatosis gene carries the DNA code for a membrane protein that helps to regulate iron absorption in cells. This single-gene disorder occurs when a mutant form of the allele prevents the production of a normal, functional protein. There are four different types of genetic disorders: (1) single-gene, (2) multifactorial, (3) chromosomal, and (4) mitochondrial. |
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