Genetic heterogeneity. The production of apparently identical disorders by different genetic mechanisms or by genes at different loci.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is an example of a condition showing genetic heterogeneity - it can be inherited in an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked manner.
The autosomal dominant condition tuberous sclerosis may be caused by a change in a gene on chromosome 9 or a gene on chromosome 16.
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