Gorlin Syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic condition which can affect either sex. The Gorlin gene is one of approximately 100,000 genes present in each one of our cells (the body’s building blocks).
For every characteristic humans possess, we inherit two genes – one from our mother and one from our father. The condition is caused when one gene of a particular gene pair contains a fault. Someone with Gorlin syndrome can pass the condition on to a child either the copy of the gene causing the syndrome or the normal gene. This means each child of a person with Gorlin syndrome has a 1 in 2 (50:50) chance of also inheriting the faulty gene, and develop signs of the condition.
This leads to a pattern of inheritance in families as shown here.
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Men are depicted by squares, and women by circles. The symbol of someone who has the condition is coloured in. In this family, four generations are affected.
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