Someone told me that when you pass a certain age, your genetic make-up is already set, so whatever you do isn't hereditary.
(Like if when you're 40 and you have high cholesterol, you can't pass it on) Is this true?
2007-02-08 13:07:30 · 6 answers · asked by Lita 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The DNA that you're born with is the DNA you have for life. The only exception is if something causes a mutation, like radiation.
If you have high cholesterol, it could be partially caused by genetics, and/or partially caused by your diet/lifestyle, if those commercials are accurate at all. So, yes, if your high cholesterol is genetically based, then you had the DNA that would make you have high cholesterol when you were born, and it would also be possible to pass it on.
When you are born, your genetic make-up is already set.
Hereditary means that it can be passed on from you to any children you have (or that it was passed on to you from one or both of your parents).
This site has some nice animated tours that tell you some of the basics about genetics and DNA:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/
Some things are not genetic, such as if you are a bodybuilder and have very strong muscles, your children won't also necessarily be bodybuilders. It's the same if your high cholesterol is caused only by diet and lifestyle. If there is no genetic component to it, then you cannot pass it on to your kids.
I believe there are genetic tests that can be done to determine if an individual with high cholesterol has familial hypercholesterolemia, which is a genetic condition that predisposes you to high cholesterol.
2007-02-08 13:20:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Your genetic info stays the same throughout your entire life, unless you get mutations.
If high cholesterol is caused by your genes and not your eating habits (aka eating too much fat) then yes, those genes will be passed down.
2007-02-08 13:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by teekshi33 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, absolutely. Because the high cholesterol may be due to your eating habits, kind of work (which may be sedentary) and overall health. These things are not incorporated in the genetic make-up as these are due to the individual's lifestyle.
Like suppose, i eat a lot and because of that i turn very fat then this trait will not be passed onto my offspring as my basic structure is just ok and the fat is due to my liking for eating.
However, if i have some chromosomal disorder which eventually leads to some hormonal problem making me fat, it may or may not be passed onto my offspring, got it?
Lot of factors like environment, nutrition, occupation play important roles in our health and types of diseases that affect us!
2007-02-08 13:19:10 · answer #3 · answered by a n 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your genetic makeup is set at birth.
If you have high cholesterol, it might be genetic and it might be lifestyle. If it's genetic, you can pass on the tendency.
2007-02-08 13:15:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No such thing
2007-02-08 13:14:36 · answer #5 · answered by Mopar Muscle Gal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, that doesn't make any sense
2007-02-08 13:24:01 · answer #6 · answered by melanie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋