Dictionary

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A disorder that affects three to five percent of children in the United States and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

autism: A disorder that is first diagnosed at early childhood, whose signs and symptoms range from problems with communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors.

cancer: A disease that affects the cells, creating new cells even when not needed, and causing old cells not to die when they should.

carrier testing: A process that is used to identify people who carry one copy of a gene mutation that, when present in two copies, causes a genetic disorder.

cystic fibrosis: An inherited disease of the mucus and sweat glands, affecting mostly the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs.

diabetes: A disease in which blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): A double-stranded nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication.

DNA diagnostic testing: To test someone’s DNA for the purpose of finding out a person’s genetic history.

DNA sample: When a part is taken in order to analyze their personal DNA. This can be blood, saliva, tumors, amniotic fluid, cheek cells, hair, or skin.

down syndrome: A set of mental and physical symptoms that are the result from having an extra copy of chromosome 21.