Understanding Tay-Sachs Disease Inheritance: A Genetic Explanation

Tay-Sachs disease is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. This means that both parents must carry the Tay-Sachs gene in order for their child to be affected by the disease.

If both parents are carriers of the Tay-Sachs gene, each parent has a 50% chance of passing on the gene to their child. If both parents pass on the gene, the child will have Tay-Sachs disease. If only one parent passes on the gene, the child will be a carrier of the gene, but they will not have Tay-Sachs disease.

Tay-Sachs disease is most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. However, it can occur in people of any race or ethnicity.