A recent study led by the University of Leicester reveals that a common heart disease that kills thousands each year could be passed on genetically from father to son.
The study, published in medical journal, The Lancet, shows that the Y chromosome, a part of DNA only existing in men, plays a crucial role in the inheritance of coronary artery disease.
"We are very excited about these findings as they put the Y chromosome on the map of genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease," said Dr. Maciej Tomaszewski, a clinical lecturer at the university's Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. "We wish to further analyze the human Y chromosome to find specific genes and variants that drive this association."
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