Final answer:
Hereditary diseases are passed from one generation to another through the transmission of genes. The transmission occurs through reproductive cells, such as eggs and sperm. The pattern of inheritance can vary depending on the specific disease and the genes involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hereditary diseases and their transmission
Hereditary diseases are passed from one generation to another through the transmission of genes. Genes are the units of heredity which contain the instructions for the development and functioning of our bodies. The transmission of these genes occurs through reproductive cells, such as eggs and sperm.
For example, let's consider a hereditary disease like cystic fibrosis. It is caused by a mutation in a gene called the CFTR gene. If a person inherits a copy of this mutated gene from both parents, they will develop the disease. If they only inherit one copy, they will become carriers of the disease but will not have symptoms. This pattern of inheritance is called autosomal recessive.
Keywords: hereditary diseases, genes, transmission, reproductive cells, mutation, CFTR gene, autosomal recessive
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