Final answer:
Hereditary diseases such as epilepsy and diabetes are considered polygenic because they likely involve multiple genes. These diseases run in families but have a complex inheritance pattern, often investigated through genome-wide association studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Epilepsy, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and allergies are called hereditary diseases because they run in families, but the inheritance pattern is not well established. They are likely a consequence of the combined effects of multiple genes and possibly environmental factors, making them polygenic traits. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is a) Hereditary, polygenic.
Genome-wide association studies often study diseases caused by multiple genes, as these methods allow researchers to investigate the associations between complex traits and many genetic variants across the entire genome. Thus, in the context of the question, c. diseases caused by multiple genes is the correct answer.
Genetic disorders can be passed down from parents to their children because they are associated with mutations in one or more genes, which can be inherited. Some genetic disorders, like autosomal recessive diseases, require a person to inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, while others like autosomal dominant diseases only require one copy. Many chronic noninfectious diseases have genetic components and understanding these can inform prevention and treatment strategies.