Asthma Genes - What Causes Asthma: Asthma

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Asthma genes

It has long been known that people inherit a tendency to develop asthma. The condition tends to run in families; if your brothers, sisters, or parents have asthma, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

The genetic contribution to asthma is far from simple, however. It's almost certain that a number of genes are responsible for the predisposition to asthma, and that these genes somehow interact to produce the disorder. Yet even if you are born with the genes predisposing you to asthma, you may never go on to develop the disease. This has been shown by studies of identical twins, who share the same genes. When one identical twin develops asthma, there is only a one in three chance that the other twin will develop it as well. Clearly, something in the environment must also be responsible for asthma.

Scores of asthma-related genes have been discovered, and this knowledge is helping to expand avenues of asthma research. Still other asthma genes are thought to exist, and it is unclear yet which ones are most significant. The research in this area continues, with the hope that better understanding of the genetic basis of asthma will lead to better treatments and potentially even a cure.

Last updated:	September 27, 2007