erblich

Erblich is a German adjective meaning hereditary or inherited, used to describe traits, characteristics, or diseases that are transmitted from parents to offspring through genetic material. In everyday language it often refers to properties that run in families, while in scientific contexts it denotes genetic transmission and inheritance patterns.

In genetics, the related noun Erblichkeit (hereditability or heritability) refers to the portion of variation in a population that can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals. This concept is statistical and population-based, and it does not imply a trait is determined by genes in a single person; it also depends on the environment and the specific trait under study.

Erbliche Merkmale can follow different patterns of inheritance. Classic Mendelian patterns include autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance, as well as X-linked and mitochondrial inheritance. Many traits, however, are polygenic and influenced by multiple genes as well as environmental factors. Erbliche Erkrankungen are diseases that arise from genetic causes and may present at birth or later in life, depending on the specific condition.

It is important to distinguish erbliche from angeboren (congenital). While congenital traits are present at birth, erbliche traits specifically reflect genetic transmission from parents and may manifest at any age. Not all genetic traits are strictly inherited; new mutations and gene-environment interactions can produce traits that are not directly passed down through families.