Why do some diseases skip a generation?

Answer 1

This is an excellent question. This goes into the field of Biology. I'll try to make this as easy as I can. We all have little things that determine what we are and what we look like. These are called chromosomes. Each chromosome determines what our traits (i.e. eye color, hair color, brow color, etc) will be. Each of us have 46. But when it comes to giving life, men contribute 23 chromosomes to a child while women give the other 23. Our chromosomes are known as X and Y. Women contribute what we call XX Chromosomes. Men Contribute what we call Xx or XY Chromosomes (we'll stick with XY). The Y is what makes males... male. The Y chromosome is also a recessive gene. Now take a look at this chart: .......X.......Y X X Above is what biologists use to help determine the probability (possibility) of a number of outcomes. .......X....... Y X ...XX.......... <------ XX will determine dominant traits (female in this case) X ................. _________________ ......X .......YX ............XY <------ XY will determine Recessive traits (male) X ................ ---- Now that you understand how the table works, let's understand the table with disease. Diseases are passed down, usually, through a recessive gene (Xx or XY) So, if a man or woman has Disease A his/her Genes Look Like this: Xx or xx The people who do not possess this disease have genes like this: XX Those with XX have absolutely no trace of a passed down geneticaly linked disease. Those with Xx are what we call "carriers" because though they may not suffer from the disease, they can still pass it on. Those with xx suffer from the disease. Now, back to our table. Anthony has Xx Nancy has XX ......X .......x X ...XX.... Xx X ...XX ....Xx This table shows that none of their children will have the disease, but they have a 50% chance of being a carrier. John has Xx Mary has Xx .......X....... x X ...XX .....Xx x ... Xx .....xx In this table, John and Mary's children hold a 25% chance of being affected by Disease A, while they hold a 75% chance of being a carrier (those affected count as carriers) and only 25% chance of not being able to pass the disease. Now you know why some children are inherit a passed down family disease.

Answer 2

because you have genes that are passed onto your child and you only get half of them and when you mate if you dont have the disease than you have a higher chance of passing onto your kid. and than so on or it might not even skip a generation it could just keep going after and after it depends i guess to how your body is imune to it. because you have genes that are passed onto your child and you only get half of them and when you mate if you dont have the disease than you have a higher chance of passing onto your kid. and than so on or it might not even skip a generation it could just keep going after and after it depends i guess to how your body is imune to it.