IT’S ALL RELATIVE

Hereditary diseases and disorders are passed down from one generation to another genetically. They’re transmitted, or inherited, via defective genes contained in chromosomes. Multifactorial inheritance disorders are a group of health conditions that, much like eye and skin colour and height, are passed on genetically. However, they can be affected by a combination of mutations in multiple genes and environmental factors. Four of the most common inherited disorders are:

Type 1 diabetes

Recognised as an auto-immune disease, type 1 diabetes occurs as a result of the body’s immune system turning on itself and attacking the cells of the pancreas that produce and release insulin. When enough