Discussion » Questions » Health and Wellness » Are the terms 'genetic' and 'hereditary' interchangeable in meaning? ~

Are the terms 'genetic' and 'hereditary' interchangeable in meaning? ~

Posted - March 29, 2018

Responses


  • 5835
    No. Hereditary means you inherited something, such as a title or a job. Genetic is always hereditary, but hereditary is not always genetic.
      March 29, 2018 7:43 AM MDT
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  • 53501
    Thanks!  That is a great explanation!
    :)
      March 29, 2018 8:48 PM MDT
    0

  • No! 
    Genetic is a trait or characteristic determined by an organism genes, hereditary is something passed from one generation to the other. 

    For instance, some diseases are genetic but not hereditary, meaning that just because your parents have it does not mean you will, but having a relative with X disease may increase your chances of having that disease because you have similar genetic make up. 

    you Picking up what I’m putting down? 

    My neurologist explained this to me

    most traits are both hereditary and genetic but some are only hereditary and some are only genetic. Not all genetic traits are hereditary.  This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 29, 2018 10:08 PM MDT
      March 29, 2018 10:05 PM MDT
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