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Ulcerative Colitis
The GI tract is long that starts from the mouth down to the rectum. Part of this long tract is the large intestine or the lower GI tract that comprises the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. It is in the colon where the wastes materials are converted to stool. Inside the colon are cell linings that serves as protective barriers against various irritants like food antigens and other organisms like bacteria and viruses. Also present are bacteria that are normally found in the colon. The balance inside the colon is primarily directed by its immune system. Once there is imbalance inside the colon which triggers an inflammatory response called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a relapsing and lingering inflammatory condition.

The concept of genetic factor or familial tendencies with IBD was first noted in a study in 1960s by Kirsner and Spencer. A European study in 1988 proposed the connection of genes among mono zygotic twins with UC with a 15.4% proband concordance compared to 3.9% dizygotic twins. From the same report, first degree relatives of patient with UC among Jewish people have high life time risk compared to the non Jewish people.