Which genetic trait is most commonly associated with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is most commonly associated with autosomal dominant inheritance. This means that only one copy of the mutated gene, inherited from an affected parent, is sufficient to predispose an individual to the condition. The genetic basis of HCM primarily involves mutations in genes that encode proteins of the cardiac sarcomere, which is responsible for muscle contraction.

In familial cases, the presence of a mutation can be traced through generations, illustrating the autosomal dominant pattern where both males and females are equally affected, and each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder. Therefore, understanding the genetics of HCM is crucial for genetic counseling and risk assessment in affected families.

Other inheritance patterns mentioned, such as autosomal recessive, multifactorial, and X-linked dominant, do not apply as directly to HCM. Autosomal recessive conditions would require two copies of the mutated gene for manifestation, multifactorial inheritance suggests a combination of multiple genes and environmental factors, and X-linked dominant inheritance primarily affects males more severely, which doesn't align with the typical inheritance observed in HCM.