Autosomal Dominant

See all Pictures & Images

Chances of inheriting a trait

For an autosomal dominant disorder: If one parent has an abnormal gene and the other parent a normal gene, there is a 50% chance each child will inherit the abnormal gene, and therefore the dominant trait.

In other words, if it is assumed that 4 children are produced from a couple in which one parent has an abnormal gene for a dominant disease, the STATISTICAL expectation is for:

• 2 children normal
• 2 children with the disease

This does not mean that children WILL necessarily be affected. It does mean that EACH child has a 50:50 chance of inheriting the disorder. Children who do not inherit the abnormal gene will not develop or pass on the disease.

See also:

Autosomal recessive
Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis
Sex-linked dominant
Sex-linked recessive

For detailed information, see heredity and disease (genetics).