Question
(This is not a spam or a homework question)
I was wondering would you please explain to me in a simple way that I can understand: how does a baby get born with cerebral palsy?

Answer
Each person on this earth is born with genetic markers (genes) that make us who we are. Some of the genes cause our hair color, or eye color. Then there's the more important ones. If your parents both have the genes for cerebral palsy, they might each give you a gene and depending on if you have it or not, you would also have it.
theres two kinds of genes that you need to know about. 1- dominant: this gene will cause you to HAVE the disease or trait of your parents. 2- recessive: this gene is a background, weak gene. It means you carry the trait or disease from your parents. If both sides have a dominant gene the baby would have cerebral palsy. If both sides have a recessive, it becomes a dominant gene and baby still has cerebral palsy. Now if you give baby one of each, the baby has a 50/50 chance of having cerebral palsy. If only one of the parents is a carrier or has the disease. Then firstly you have a 50/50 chance of giving it to the baby, 25/75 that the baby becomes a carrier and 25/75 that you have a completely healthy child.



I wish there was an easier way to explain genetics. I've always struggled with finding a simpler way to explain things to people who are really confused about how things like that get passed on. I hope this helps.

Lizzie.