Polygenic disease
A genetic disorder that is caused by the combined action of more than one gene. Examples of polygenic conditions include hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Because such disorders depend on the simultaneous presence of several genes, they are not inherited as simply as are single-gene diseases.
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- Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA)
replacing the various hormones that are in short supply, giving insulin for the diabetes, treating the yeast infections, etc. However, there is no known cure for PGA. The prognosis (outlook) depends on whether the critical hormone deficiencies are remedied and especially whether the infections can be successfully controlled. PGA goes by a confusing array of […]
- Polyhydramnios
Too much amniotic fluid. The opposite of polyhydramnios is oligohydramnios.
- Polymerase, DNA
An enzyme that catalyzes (speeds) the polymerization of DNA. DNA polymerase uses preexisting nucleic acid templates and assembles the DNA from deoxyribonucleotides.
- Polymerase, RNA
The enzyme that makes the very large molecule RNA, by joining together many smaller molecules, using DNA as a template.
- Polymorphic
Pertaining to a polymorphism, a variation in the DNA that is too common to be due merely to new mutation. A polymorphism must have a frequency of at least 1% in the population. Examples of polymorphic genes include those for sickle cell disease, thalassemia and G6PD deficiency. These genes are widely believed to offer an […]