Genetic predisposition

Genetic predisposition refers to a genetic characteristic which influences the possible phenotypic development of an individual organism within a species or population under the influence of environmental conditions. The term genetic susceptibility is often used synonymously with genetic predisposition and is further defined as the inherited risk for specific conditions, based on genetic variants. While environmental factors can influence disease onset, genetic predisposition plays a role in inherited risk of conditions, such as various cancers.^[1] At the molecular level, genetic predisposition often involves specific gene mutation, regulatory pathways, or epigenetic modifications that alter cellular processes, increasing disease risk.^[2]