18: Genetics in Relation to the Skin Flashcards
What percentage of monogenic gene disorders with known molecular mechanisms have skin manifestations?
25% of monogenic gene disorders with known molecular mechanisms have skin manifestations.
What are the key benefits of dissecting the human genome in dermatology?
The key benefits include:
- Documentation of new information about disease causation.
- Improving the accuracy of diagnosis and genetic counseling.
- Making DNA-based prenatal testing feasible.
What is the composition of the human genome in terms of chromosomes?
The human genome consists of 46 chromosomes, which include:
- 22 pairs of autosomes (chromosome 22)
- 2 sex chromosomes (X and Y)
What are telomeres and their function in cell division?
Telomeres are the ends of chromosomal arms consisting of multiple tandem repeats of short DNA sequences. They protect the chromosome ends and are shortened during each round of cell division, which helps determine the ‘age’ of somatic cells. When telomere length falls below a certain threshold, the cell undergoes senescence.
What is the role of telomerase in relation to telomeres?
Telomerase is a protein-RNA enzyme complex that adds additional repeats to telomeres, counteracting the shortening that occurs during DNA replication in somatic cells.
What are the structural features common to all human chromosomes?
All human chromosomes consist of two chromosomal arms, designated as ‘p’ and ‘q,’ and have telomeres at their ends, which consist of multiple tandem repeats of short DNA sequences.
How can the ‘age’ of somatic cells be determined in terms of their division history?
The ‘age’ of somatic cells can be determined by measuring the length of their telomeres, as one telomere repeat is trimmed off during each round of cell division.
What is the role of telomerase in telomere maintenance?
Telomerase is a protein–RNA enzyme complex that adds additional repeats to telomeres, maintaining their length.
What percentage of inherited single-gene disorders have a skin phenotype?
About 25% of inherited single-gene disorders have a skin phenotype.
What is the significance of cytogenetic chromosome bands like 17q21.2 in dermatology?
Cytogenetic chromosome bands like 17q21.2 help locate specific genes, such as type I keratin genes, which are relevant to skin conditions.
How does the trimming of telomere repeats during cell division relate to cellular senescence?
When telomere length falls below a certain threshold due to trimming during cell division, the cell undergoes senescence.
What is the role of telomerase in preventing cellular aging?
Telomerase adds repeats to telomeres, preventing their shortening and delaying cellular aging.
What is the significance of the cytogenetic chromosome band 17q21.2 in dermatology?
The cytogenetic chromosome band 17q21.2 is significant because it is where type I keratin genes reside, which are important for skin structure and function.
What is the difference between a polymorphism and a mutation in the human genome?
Polymorphisms are sequence dissimilarities within the normal population that have no relevance to disease or phenotypic traits, while mutations are changes in the nucleotide sequence that lead to changes in protein composition.
What are polymorphisms and how do they relate to genetic variation in healthy individuals?
Polymorphisms are sequence dissimilarities within the genetic code of two healthy individuals that have no relevance to disease or phenotypic traits.
What is a missense mutation and how does it differ from a nonsense mutation?
A missense mutation changes one amino acid to another, while a nonsense mutation leads to premature termination of translation, resulting in a truncated protein.
What defines a silent mutation in the context of genetic mutations?
A silent mutation is a type of mutation that does not change the amino acid composition of a protein, despite a change in the nucleotide sequence.
What biological function do telomeres contribute to, and why is this important?
Telomeres contribute to a biological clock function that removes somatic cells that have undergone too many rounds of replication, reducing the risk of tumorigenesis or other functional aberrations.
What is the clinical relevance of silent mutations in the human genome?
Silent mutations do not change the amino acid composition and are generally clinically irrelevant.
How do single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differ from other genetic variations?
SNPs are single base pair substitutions that occur approximately once every 250 base pairs and are often clinically irrelevant.
What is the impact of a frameshift mutation caused by an insertion or deletion?
A frameshift mutation disrupts the normal reading frame of a gene, potentially altering the entire protein sequence.
What is the significance of the promoter region in gene expression?
The promoter region determines whether a gene is actively transcribed in specific cells or tissues.
What are the four main patterns of inheritance in Mendelian disorders?
- Autosomal dominant
- Autosomal recessive
- X-linked dominant
- X-linked recessive
What is the risk of transmitting an autosomal dominant disorder from an affected parent to their offspring?
The risk of transmitting the disorder is 50% for each child, regardless of the number of previously affected or unaffected offspring.