| alveoli |
the small airsacs which allow the oxygen in the air to transfer to the blood. emphysema is effectively the destruction of these airsacs |
| allele |
a gene region on the chromosome |
| COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema is in this group of diseases |
| DNA |
the chemical building blocks of cells |
| emphysema |
the destruction of the airsacs in the lung which leads to reduced internal lung surface area and thus the reduction in oxygen absorption |
| exacerbation |
an episode of illness such as a chest infection which can lead to lung damage |
| FEV1 |
forced expiration volume. The amount of air that can be breathed out in the first second. |
| genes |
part of the DNA found in every cell. The common gene types in the UK are labelled M, S and Z. Each cell has 2 genes so the problem type is ZZ. |
| genotyping |
identifying the type of genes a person’s DNA contains |
| nucleotides |
chemical messages in the genes which determine the function of the gene |
| phenotyping |
identifying the type of genes a person’s DNA contains |
| Prolastin |
alpha-1 antitrypsin replacement purified from blood |
| SOB |
shortness of breath |
