基因（gene）是细胞内遗传物质的结构和功能单位，它以脱氧核 糖核酸（deoxyribonucleic acid，DNA）化学形式存在于染色体上。在 人类，基因通过生殖细胞从亲代向子代传递。早在 1944 年，Avery 等 用实验的方法就直接证明了 DNA 是生物的遗传物质。1953 年 Watson 和 Crick 在前人的工作基础上

随着医学科学的发展，医学家们都已经认识到医学实践中所遇到的 一些问题（例如某些疾病的病因、发病机制、病变过程、预防和诊治等） 需要用遗传学的理论和方法才能得以解决。比如为什么有高血压家族史 的人更易患高血压病？为什么同一药物对患有同一疾病的不同患者的 疗效不同（有人显效、有人无效、有人表现出严重的副作用）？

Medical Genetics What is a population from a genetic perspective? A population in the genetic sense, is not just a group of individuals, but a breeding group

Medical Genetics The normal 46 chromosomes in our body are contained in the center of the cell, which is called the nucleus. Mitochondria are structures in the cell located outside of the nucleus in the cytoplasm, that also contain genes that are separate from the ones in the nucleus

Medical Genetics Multifactorial inheritance is responsible for the greatest number of individuals that will need special care or hospitalization because of genetic diseases

Some disorders result when a mutation causes the product of a single gene to be altered or missing. These disorders are inherited in simple patterns similar to or identical with those described by Mendel for certain discrete characteristics in garden peas. Therefore, it’s also called Mendelian diseases

1.Genes can be mutated in many ways The most common gene change involves a single base mismatch--a misspelling--placing the wrong base in the DNA. At other times, a single base may be dropped or added. And sometimes large pieces of DNA are mistakenly repeated or deleted

Medical Genetics Gene Mutation Change in genes caused by change in structure of the DNA

Medical Genetics Genes are entities that parents pass to offspring during reproduction

Medical Genetics Introduction What is Medical Genetics? Genetic disease Role of Medical Genetics in Medical Education