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Pathogenic Variant

Pathogenic Variant

updated: December 22, 2024

Definition

A pathogenic variant is a genomic variant that may increase a person’s risk of developing a condition, disorder or disease. In many cases, carrying a pathogenic variant does not guarantee that a person will develop the specific condition but increases the risk for it. Pathogenic variants can be inherited from a parent or can occur spontaneously due to factors such as environmental exposure and aging.

 Pathogenic Variant


Narration

In mitochondrial disease, pathogenic variants may occur in the nuclear genome or mitochondrial genome. Pathogenic nuclear variants may be inherited in an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked fashion.

Peter McGuire
Peter McGuire, M.S., M.B.B.Ch.

Investigator

Metabolic Medicine Branch