In the past, they had had short life expectancy, but now medical treatment extends their life expectancy and quality of life​

People with the condition may have problems absorbing nourishment from food and they may also suffer from chest and respiratory infection

The gene is recessive – both parents must be carriers for their children to develop cystic fibrosis​

If both parents carry the faulty gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance of the child being born with cystic fibrosis

In the future, it may be possible to use genetic therapy to replace the faulty gene

Results in a defective protein being produced that can cause lungs to become clogged with thick sticky mucus

May be passed from a person's parents, but can also develop from a genetic mutation

Genetic condition that occurs as a result of an extra chromosome (chromosome 21)

Causes varying levels of learning disability, characteristic physical features and associated medical issues

In majority of cases, it isn't inherited, result of a one-off genetic 'mistake' in the sperm or egg

Life expectancy of people who have Down's syndrome is genetically between 50 and 60 years old, a small number live into their 70s (this is due improvements in health care)

NHS Scotland (2004) people with Down's syndrome experience a high incidence of depression and other health conditions like hearing, visual or heart problems

Improved health and social care support and education has provided opportunties like being able to live independently, form relationship and gain employment

Each year 750 babies born in the UK have the condition, this is 60,000 people in the UK

Higher risk of giving birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome for women 45+ (1 in 50). 20 year old women has a risk of 1 in 1500

DNA contains instructions for producing proteins, these proteins regulate the development of a human being

Each living cell in the body has a nucleus containing 23 pairs of chromosomes

Each chromosome contains genes which carry genetic information e.g. eye colour​​

Genetic predisposition: inherited genes that determine physical growth, development, health and appearance – this could be one or both of your parents

Some inherited conditions are rarer than others and can have serious consequences of a child's growth and development

Genetic make-up can be altered based on environmental factors which can offer support and treatment to allow individuals to develop and lead healthier lives​​

Colour vision deficiency, where individuals have difficulty telling the difference between colours is also known as colour blindness

Inherited colour vision deficiency is a result of an abnormality in the retina (light-sensitive layer of cells that line in the back of the eye)

Health and social care provider take colour blindness into consideration when delivering servives by using appropriate colour schemes when producing printed information

Others experience other disease such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The aging process or side effects of certain medication can also affect colour recognition

Varies in severity and some people don't realise they are colour blind, leading healthy lives without treatment

It is important that colour bindness is recognised so learning experience is not affected and doesn't lead to long-term health problems

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually weaken muscles leading to disability which is a progessive condition because it worsens over time

Survival beyond the age of 30 was rare, but research and medical advance increase so do life expectancy. The right specialist health and social care make a huge difference to both the quality and length of life

The most common and severe form is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it is inherited on the female gene and is passes only to male offspring

Caused by genetic mutations on the X chromosome which prevents vital muscle protein and dystrophin – essential for building and repairing muscles

Despite it being a severely disabling many young men are able to lead active lives

Caused by changes in the genes responsible for the structure and functioning a person's muscles

They may face severe health problems, especially late teens, as muscles in heart and lungs weaken

Usually diagnosed by the age of 5 but definitely diagnosed by 12, they may need a wheelchair

Serious condition with muscle weakness mainly around the hips and shoulders - gross motor skills are more affected than fine motor skills

Muscle weakness is not noticeable at birth but becomes more noticeable in early childhood and more prominent as the child grows older

Muscular Dystrophy UK (2015) research: 1 in 3500 boys born in the UK have the condition, there are 2500 boys living in the UK with the condition at any one time

Diseases are more likely to occur in individuals with a susceptibility including certain types of cancer, diabetes and having blood cholesterol

World Health Organization (WHO): most diseases involve environmental factors and the complex interaction of genes

Although an individual may not be born with a disease, their genetic make-up may make them susceptible to acquiring it later in life

E.g. skin cancer linked to over exposure of ultraviolet (UV) light

E.g. lung cancer linked to tobacco

Over 200 types of cancer

Cell disease which means they become abnormal and divide to make even more abnormal cells

If you have a fault gene getting cancer is not inevitable but an unhealthy lifestyle will increase the risk

Avoiding environmental factors such as exposure to sun or asbestos dust​​​

Inherited condition that runs in families, known as familial hypercholesterolaemia

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried around the body by proteins, too much build-up in the artery walls can cause heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases

There is 50% chance that a child or sibling of someone diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolaemia will also have the condition

People with is type of high cholesterol are born with the condition and it can lead to early heart problems unless treated​​​

Risk for developing Type 2 diabetes is almost 90% if you have an identical twin who is diabetic

Increasingly common chronic condition affecting millions of people in the UK

Factors such as environment and lifestyle are more likely to play a role in Type 2 (later/mature onset) diabetes there is a strong predisposition to developing both Type 1 (early onset, insulin-dependent) and Type 2