Hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. This excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints. Because humans cannot increase the excretion of iron, excess iron can overload and eventually damage tissues and organs. Some individuals who are homozygous for this autosomal recessive gene experience only skin discoloration and joint pain, others experience heart disease in addition to the skin discoloration, still other individuals suffer also suffer from diabetes, severe heart disease, and liver damage. Name and define this genetic phenomenon and explain how it relates to this specific genetic situation described above.
Hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. This excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints. Because humans cannot increase the excretion of iron, excess iron can overload and eventually damage tissues and organs.
Some individuals who are homozygous for this autosomal recessive gene experience only skin discoloration and joint pain, others experience heart disease in addition to the skin discoloration, still other individuals suffer also suffer from diabetes, severe heart disease, and liver damage. Name and define this genetic phenomenon and explain how it relates to this specific genetic situation described above.
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