Macular degeneration is a so-called "waste basket" term. It includes a variety of diseases that look, and behave, the same way. Most cases of "macular degeneration" are not heritable. Historically, there have been a few families where the macular degeneration was passed on from one generation to the next, but these instances are quite rare.
There seems, at best, a genetic predisposition, or risk, however, for developing the disease. Blue eyes, northern European ancestry, etc. seem to put you at risk.
An example I use frequently, do patients with freckles get more skin cancer because they inherit it or because their genetically lighter skin make them more prone to developing it?
See if this article helps: http://retinaeyedoctor.com/2009/08/macular-degeneration-is-not-inherited/
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Dear Diane,
Macular degeneration is a so-called "waste basket" term. It includes a variety of diseases that look, and behave, the same way. Most cases of "macular degeneration" are not heritable. Historically, there have been a few families where the macular degeneration was passed on from one generation to the next, but these instances are quite rare.
There seems, at best, a genetic predisposition, or risk, however, for developing the disease. Blue eyes, northern European ancestry, etc. seem to put you at risk.
An example I use frequently, do patients with freckles get more skin cancer because they inherit it or because their genetically lighter skin make them more prone to developing it?
See if this article helps: http://retinaeyedoctor.com/2009/08/macular-degeneration-is-not-inherited/
Thanks for your comment!
Randy
February 11, 2010 - 10:35amwww.RetinaEyeDoctor.com
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