Identity
Identity (Medicine)
Identity (pronounced: /aɪˈdɛntɪti/) in the field of medicine refers to the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. It is often used in the context of genetic identity, psychological identity, and biological identity.
Etymology
The term "identity" originates from the late Middle English: from Old French identite or late Latin identitas, from Latin idem 'same'.
Genetic Identity
Genetic identity refers to the unique set of genetic information possessed by an individual, which is encoded in their DNA. This identity is determined by the combination of genes inherited from both parents. Genetic identity is crucial in the field of genetics and genomic medicine, where it is used to understand and treat genetic disorders.
Psychological Identity
Psychological identity refers to an individual's self-conception and self-perception, and is related to their personality, abilities, and role in society. It is a key concept in psychology and psychiatry, and is often explored in the context of mental health disorders and treatments.
Biological Identity
Biological identity refers to the unique combination of physical and physiological traits of an individual, including their genotype and phenotype. It is a fundamental concept in biology and medicine, and is used in areas such as immunology, where the immune system recognizes and responds to the biological identity of pathogens.
Related Terms
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Genomics: The study of all of a person's genes (the genome), including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person's environment.
- Psychiatry: The medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders.
- Immunology: The branch of medicine and biology concerned with immunity.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Identity
- Wikipedia's article - Identity
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