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locus heterogeneity

(LOH-kus HEH-teh-roh-jeh-NEE-ih-tee)
A term that describes when mutations (changes) in different genes cause the same disease or condition. Each mutation by itself is enough to cause the disease or condition. For example, xeroderma pigmentosum (a rare, inherited disorder with a very high risk of developing skin cancer and other types of cancer) is caused by having a mutation in one of at least nine different genes involved in repairing damaged DNA.
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