title: The role of genes in disease: beware of simplistic interpretations!
abstract: (1) Most diseases with a strong genetic component and a Mendelian pattern of inheritance are rare or very rare disorders; (2) The most common human diseases result from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. They are multifactorial; (3) The simple presence of genes that are associated with a disease is not generally sufficient to determine with certainty that the signs and symptoms that characterise the disease will develop in that individual; (4) The association of a disease with a gene does not mean that the gene causes the disease.
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics; D015984:Causality; D004777:Environment; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics*; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005823:Genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015894:Genome, Human; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000235:genetics; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000235:genetics; D012380:Role; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic