Genes are the building blocks of heredity. They are passed from parent to child. They hold DNA, the instructions for making proteins. Proteins do most of the work in cells. They move molecules from one place to another, build structures, break down toxins, and do many other maintenance jobs. Sometimes there is a mutation, a change in a gene or genes. The mutation changes the gene's instructions for making a protein, so the protein does not work properly or is missing entirely. This can cause a medical condition called a genetic disorder. You can inherit a gene mutation from one or both parents. A mutation can also happen during your lifetime.

Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder that causes too much copper to accumulate in your liver, brain and other vital organs. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 12 and 23. Copper plays a key role in the development of healthy nerves, bones, collagen and the skin pigment melanin. Normally, copper is absorbed from your food, and any excess is excreted through bile — a substance produced in your liver. But in people with Wilson's disease, copper isn't eliminated properly and instead accumulates, possibly to a life-threatening level. When diagnosed early, Wilson's disease is treatable, and many people with the disorder live normal lives.

Dr. Lin Testimonial 1

Laparoscopic Repair of Rupture Urinary Bladder

Wet dreams occur when you ejaculate during your sleep. The medical term for a wet dream is “nocturnal emission.“ Most wet dreams are reported in teenage boys and young men, and sometimes they occur well into adulthood.

A video from Loyola medical school, Chicago showing the cardiovascular medical and clinical medical examination

How To Tighten Sagging Breast - Prevent Sagging Breasts Naturally

Watch that video of an Ingrown Hair Causes Huge Tumor in a Man's Stomach

Total Hip Replacement Animation

Fertilization of the egg with sperm generally occurs during the two weeks following the first day of your last menstrual period.1 The week of pregnancy that you are entering is dated from the first day of your last period. This means that in the first two weeks or so, you are not actually pregnant - your body will be preparing for ovulation as normal.

Having trouble achieving a good night’s sleep? A few easy tips for your daily routine can help you get the rest you need.

A case of replantation of a completely amputated arm

A video showing the surgery of vaginal hysterectomy Operation

The removal of a clot is called an embolectomy. An embolectomy might be done during a surgery. Or it might be done with a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter (a thin tube that is guided through a blood vessel). This type of treatment for pulmonary embolism is used only in rare cases.

Watch that Fishing Hook Inside Eye Removal Surgery

Orchidectomy and Orchidopexy in Testicular Torsion

A plastic surgery video showing Turbinal Reduction and Turbinoplasy of the nose

Fremale to male gender reassignment surgery

Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Signs and symptoms of measles include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash. Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year, most under the age of 5. As a result of high vaccination rates, measles has not been widespread in the United States for more than a decade. Today, the United States averages about 60 cases of measles a year, and most of them originate outside the country. Symptoms ShareTweet May 24, 2014 References See also Cough Runny nose Vital Vaccinations Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship PolicyOpportunities Mayo Clinic Store Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic A to Z Health Guide The Essential Guide to Prostate Health Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain Relief The Menopause Solution — NEW! The Mayo Clinic Diet Online

A natural, unmedicated approach to labor and birth will suit you best if you want to remain in control of your body as much as possible, be an active participant throughout labor, and have minimal routine interventions such as continuous electronic monitoring. If you choose to go this route, you accept the potential for pain and discomfort as part of giving birth. But with the right preparation and support, women often feel empowered and deeply satisfied by natural childbirth.