Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
08:02
Mouse Model of Surgically-induced Endometriosis by Auto-transplantation of Uterine Tissue
Published on: January 6, 2012
Genetics of endometriosis
Joe Leigh Simpson1, Farideh Z Bischoff, Aparna Kamat
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, 6550 Fannin, Suite 901A, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jsimpson@bcm.tmc.edu
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America
|April 18, 2003
Summary
Endometriosis shows heritable tendencies, suggesting a genetic basis. Researchers are identifying the specific genes and their locations contributing to this complex condition.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Endometriosis is recognized for its heritable tendencies, with a 5-7% recurrence risk in first-degree relatives.
- The inheritance pattern suggests a polygenic and multifactorial etiology rather than simple Mendelian inheritance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the number and genomic locations of genes responsible for endometriosis.
- To review the evidence supporting endometriosis as a polygenic/multifactorial genetic disorder.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of available data on gene association or linkage.
- Consideration of genome-wide strategies for identifying causative genes.
Main Results:
- The review supports the conclusion that endometriosis is a genetic disorder with polygenic/multifactorial inheritance.
- Molecular advances facilitate the identification and elucidation of responsible genes.
Conclusions:
- Endometriosis has a significant genetic component requiring further gene identification.
- Genome-wide approaches are crucial for unraveling the genetic architecture of endometriosis.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
03:09Meiosis I
Meiosis is the division of a diploid cell into haploid cells forming sperm and eggs in animals through differentiation. Meiosis I is the first stage of meiosis, where the genetic recombination of homologous chromosomes and the reduction of the ploidy level by half occurs.
Prophase I is the most extended and complex step of meiosis I characterized by synapsis, chromosome pairing, and recombination of the homologous chromosomes. This process is facilitated by a proteinaceous structure called the...
Prophase I is the most extended and complex step of meiosis I characterized by synapsis, chromosome pairing, and recombination of the homologous chromosomes. This process is facilitated by a proteinaceous structure called the...
01:21Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...