GENETICS AND RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Retinitis Pigmentosa is caused by a genetic defect. Less than 1% of the world's population are carriers of the affected genes and only 1 in 3500–4000 people will develop RP. There are over 100 genetic mutations that have been found that cause RP so drilling down to each gene and how it manifests itself would be a bit more than I can handle. I’m not great when it comes to science at the best of times but I will explain here, to the best of my abilities, why genes are so important in RP and why we should at least understand the basics. We inherit our genes from our parents and usually they make good and healthy humans, but sometimes things go wrong. In some instances of RP, you inherit your genetic mutation from only one of your parents but in others, like mine, you must inherit the defective gene from both your parents. I have put together a bit of a chart explaining the genetic inheritance and patterns that can be found with each: <a href="https://gillianwrites.medium.com/its-all-in-the-genes-genetics-and-retinitis-pigmentosa-bbf7a61eba78">Website</a>