The phrase
"heritable component" means something that is passed down from parents to their children through their genes or family traits.
Full definition
Some studies have suggested that conditions such as alcoholism and schizophrenia may
possess heritable components, but no one is (yet) claiming that either is desirable.
Unlike our first two published cancer genomes (AML1 and AML2), this project must examine germline (inherited) changes as well as somatic (acquired) ones, since we expect that many childhood cancers have a
large heritable component.
The heritable component of cancer is quite low, notwithstanding the discovery of genes for particular tumors.
Studies comparing identical and fraternal twins suggest there is
some heritable component to homosexuality, but no one believes that a single gene or genes can make a person gay.
June 2009: «EPI does have a genetic /
heritable component, but it is likely more complex than autosomal recessive.
Therefore this evidence supports the existence of
a heritable component to antisocial or criminal behavior (Tehrani & Mednick, 2000).