Human Genetics and Genetic Disorders and Special Look Towards Jane Eyre

Genetic disorders are a kind of health condition that occurs as a result of mutation of DNA. In our society we can see several types of people. We can see some of them are having Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington's Disease etc. These all diseases are hereditary. For having that kind of diseases people behaves in a peculiar way. The family with which he/she is connected must having a disorder. Genetic diseases are a major cause of disability, death, and human tragedy. Disease like Sickle Cell disease that is caused by mutations that are inherited from parents and are present in an individual at birth. Other diseases are caused by acquired mutations in a gene or group of genes that occur during a person's life. Such mutations are not inherited from a parent, but occur either randomly or due to some environmental exposure. In “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë we can see the character Bertha Mason has a neuropsychiatric disorder. In Bertha’s case we can compare this with a reference to Huntington’s disease. Bertha’s progression with her own mental illnesses almost match Huntington’s finding on Chorea. Mason’s family history was described as “idiots and maniacs through three generations!” Rochester explored: “Her mother, the Creole was both a madwoman and a drunkard” and her “younger brother too, a complete idiot.” So, Bertha Mason is a woman who is the actual portrayal of genetic disordered people in society.

Author(s): Paulami Kundu

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