The propensity to develop asthma is passed on genetically. In many cases there is both a genetic predisposition and an environmental influence that lead to the asthmatic state. There is not one specific asthma gene. Asthma, or the tendency to develop asthma, is inherited on multiple genes similar to diabetes and hypertension.
Research is ongoing to locate genetic alterations which result in asthma.
To date this has not been successful. The prevalence of asthma is difficult to estimate because not everyone agrees on the definition of asthma. Detection of asthma in the carrier state or in the fetus is not possible at this time for the reasons listed above. All rights reserved.