Genetic Heterogeneity

The presence of apparently similar characters for which the genetic evidence indicates that different genes or different genetic mechanisms are involved in different pedigrees. In clinical settings genetic heterogeneity refers to the presence of a variety of genetic defects which cause the same disease, often due to mutations at different loci on the same gene, a finding common to many human diseases including ALZHEIMER DISEASE; CYSTIC FIBROSIS; LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE DEFICIENCY, FAMILIAL; and POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASES. (Rieger, et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed; Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)

Year introduced: 1995

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Tree Number(s): G05.365.331

MeSH Unique ID: D018740

Entry Terms:

• Heterogeneity, Genetic
• Genetic Heterogeneities
• Heterogeneities, Genetic

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Genetic Phenomena
Genetic Variation
Genetic Heterogeneity