Genetic predisposition, Penetrance and Expressivity: An understanding through Prakriti and Vikara vighata bhava

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Biological inheritance, the process that makes an offspring acquire or become predisposed to characteristics of its parent can be understood in terms of prakriti. The determination of prakriti is dependent on the utkata dosha during the samyoga of shukra and shonita.1 The process of genetic coding begins at fertilization, DNA replicate with each dividing cell to carry the inherited information. Materials and methods: Construction of this article was done utilizing the concepts of Prakriti and Vikara vighata bhava stated in the Ayurveda samhitas. The basics of genetics were adopted from the available literature through books and published works. Results: The present article provides a theoretical review of the concept of genetic predisposition, disease occurrence and variable presentation. Discussion: Penetrance and expressivity of a particular trait is dependent on various factors like modifier genes, epigenetic factors or the environment. The non-occurrence & occurrence of diseases, get similarly affected by the presence or absence of vikara vighatakara bhava2 respectively. Conclusion: Thus the concepts of genetics can be imbibed into the concepts of prakriti & vikara vighata bhava. Key words: Expressivity, Penetrance, Prakriti, Vikara vighatakara bhava