[Enough Science] International Day for Rare Diseases： Will Rare Diseases Be Inherited？

February 29th this year is the 17th International Day for Rare Diseases. Did you know that 80% of rare diseases are related to genes? Albinism, porcelain dolls and smiling angel syndrome are all genetic diseases, which are caused by genetic defects. People may not know that rare diseases caused by genetic defects may not necessarily be inherited. Dr. Gu Weihong, a researcher of neurology in Chinese and Japanese hospitals and the general coordinator of the CHPO working group, said that hereditary rare diseases are inherited by genes, and even if there are related genes, there may not be corresponding disease manifestations. Gene transmission and its influence on human body is a complicated process of arrangement and combination. Moreover, seemingly healthy parents may also give birth to children with rare diseases. But patients with rare diseases can give birth to healthy offspring through reproductive intervention technology. (Reporter/Proofread by Yang Wenjun/Intern by Liang Yaqin/Lv Qi)