At the time of conception, one half of each gene pair is passed on to the child from each parent. The new gene pairs determine which features or traits the child inherits. Most inherited genes are normal. However, sometimes a gene changes from its original form. The exact reasons why a mutation occurs are usually unknown.
Mutations can occur frequently.
Most mutations are not harmful, but occasionally a mutant gene functions improperly and causes a disorder, malfunction or malformation. A family with one type of EDS will not develop another type, and the inheritance pattern will be the same within a family. Autosomal Dominant Inheritance is the way in which the most common forms of EDS such as Types I and II are inherited. With this type of inheritance pattern, the EDS gene is dominant. This means it overrides the effects of the other gene in the pair.