What is the typical genetic inheritance pattern of Gardner's syndrome?

Gardner's syndrome is characterized by a specific genetic inheritance pattern that is classified as autosomal dominant. This means that only one copy of the mutated gene inherited from one parent is sufficient to cause the disorder. Gardner's syndrome is caused by mutations in the APC gene, which is found on chromosome 5. Since it follows an autosomal dominant pattern, each child of an affected individual has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.

In this case, the presence of the syndrome leads to a variety of symptoms, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), osteomas, and soft tissue tumors, which are all manifestations of the abnormal gene functioning. The autosomal dominant nature of Gardner's syndrome also means that the condition can be transmitted to future generations, making it important for affected individuals to undergo genetic counseling.

Other inheritance patterns such as autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, or multifactorial do not accurately reflect the way Gardner's syndrome is passed down in families. For example, autosomal recessive conditions require two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) for the disorder to manifest, which is not the case with Gardner's syndrome.