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Junk DNA
Stretches of DNA that do not code for genes; most of the genome consists of so-called junk DNA which may have regulatory and other functions.
Genetic illness
Sickness, physical disability, or other disorder resulting from the inheritance of one or more deleterious alleles.
Autosome
A chromosome not involved in sex determination.
Risk communication
In genetics, a process in which a genetic counselor or other medical professional interprets genetic test results and advises patients of the consequences for them and their offspring.
Birth defect
Any harmful trait, physical or biochemical, present at birth, whether a result of a genetic mutation or some other nongenetic factor.
Deletion.
A loss of part of the DNA from a chromosome; can lead to a disease or abnormality.
Amino acid
Any of a class of 20 molecules that are combined to form proteins in living things.
Haploid
A single set of chromosomes (half the full set of genetic material) present in the egg and sperm cells of animals and in the egg and pollen cells of plants
Gene
The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular position on a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product
Identical twin
Twins produced by the division of a single zygote; both have identical genotypes.
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