Case 7 Flashcards
Revision
What are the traits of an autosomal dominant disorder and how would you spot it on a family tree
man and woman equally affected. Male to male transmission. Risk to child is 1/2 x penetrance.
What are incomplete penetrance (a) and variable expression (b)
a. have the gene but not the disease
b. have the gene but different expression to somebody else in the family.
What are the traits of an autosomal recessive disorder and what increases the risk to the child ?
both parents are asymptomatic carriers. If parents blood relatives (consanguineous). Risk to child = mum x dad x 1/4.
What are the traits of an X linked recessive disorder
Usually only men affected. Females asymptomatic carriers with 50% of sons affected.
What is uniparental disomy and how does it occur?
2 chromosomes come from 1 parent and 0 from the other. Meiosis 1 - 2 non identical chromosomes are inherited from one parent (heterodisomy, benign).
Meiosis 2 - error in meiosis 2 as chromosome copies itself (isodisomy, lethal)
What is trisomy rescue ?
fertilised ovum with 3 copies of DNA loses one of its copies. May lead to UPD if the unique copy is lost.
List the two HW equations and give some required conditions of the theory
p+q=1 , p^2+2pq+q^2=1.
Random mating and reproductive success, large population, no mutation, no net immigration/emigration.
What is the difference between penetrance and expressivity?
Penetrance is wether a specific gene is expressed or not. Expressivity is the form it takes when the gene is shown.
Where is the normal site of fertilisation
Ant or post wall of the body of the uterus. Ejac deposits 2-6 mill sperm around external os. Originally ampulla of uterine tubes.
What proportion of sperm is fertile and how motile is it ?
20-50% , 40% motile after 2 hours. some still motile after 24.
What is the point of capacitation?
sperm undergoes functional change allowing it to pass through corona radiata cells. Lasts around 7 hours in female tract, removes proteins from plasma membrane overlying acromial region.
What are the consequences of fertilisation ?
Restoration of diploid number (2n) , induction of cleavage and sex determination.
What to do the ICM and trophoblast cells give rise to ?
ICM/embryoblasts –> embryo
Trophoblasts –> placenta.
Can cells be lost at any point without it having a detrimental affect to the unborn child ?
Once completed morula forms it needs all cells to be a full human. Lost cells = lost child.
What are the 3 abnormal sites of implantation and what are the ratios of each ?
Uterine tube 95%
Mesentery of interstitial loop
Pouch of Douglas
What is ovarian implantation and what are the consequences ?
Placenta previa, implantation in the region of internal os. Placenta grows in lowest part of womb (uterus) and covers the cervix. Out of control bleeding leads to caesarean no matter the gestation.
What is the cause of the ‘spotting period’ ?
Trophoblasts invade spiral arteries, giving the appearance of period when there’s a 2 week embryo.
What are the common indicators of FAS ?
lack of adipocytes (bony), no septum or philtrum. Low set ears.
What type of cells line the internal aspect of the heart?
Squamous endothelium (same as rest of vascular system)
Are freshly ejaculated sperm able to fertilise the egg ?
No they’re not capacitated.
What are the common names of (a) trisomy 13 and (b) trisomy 18?
a. Patau’s
b. Edward’s
What is the NT test, when is it performed and what is it testing for ?
Nucheal translucency, 11-13.6, Down’s
What are the indicators of pre-eclampsia ?
Proteinuria and hypertension
What is the cause of conjoined twins ?
Zygote splits and stays connected but with both new cells thinking they’re dominant so grow independantly
Name the fluid that surrounds developing baby? what is it’s origin
Amniotic fluid. Amniotic cells and maternal blood.
What stage of cell cycle is the ovum suspended in prior to fertilisation ?
Metaphase 2
What is placenta accreta?
Placenta invades the end and myometrium. Causes mum to haemorrhage and often need a hysterectomy
What is the bilaminar embryo?
composed of the epiblast and hypoblast
What are the 3 germ layers ?
Ectoderm (outside cavity) , mesoderm and endoderm (inner tubing)
What does the amniotic cavity develop from ?
Develops between the hypoblast and epiblast
What effect does pregnancy have on stroma cells?
Causes stroma cells of endometrial wall to change shape (store glycogen needed for growth)
Where and when does Hensen’s node form ?
The primitive streak forms on surface of embryonic epiblast between 16-18 days.
List the main derivates of the Germ layers …
Ectoderm: CNS nerves epidermis glands
Mesoderm: muscles, CT, heart
Endoderm: lower organs, GI, pancreas
When and how does the notochord form ?
after 17 days, midline/mesoderm cells break off and differentiate. This instructs ectoderm to start from neural tissue.
What is the primary inductive effect?
notochord formation on the overlying ectoderm. Ectoderm responds by lengthening and folding. Folds then hinge and tilt.
What is Spina bifida occulta?
mild form of SB, failure of the neural plate to fuse dorsally. No pain or neurological disorder, only sign is a dimple or hair tuft.
What are the 4 domains of the neural crest?
Cranial, Trunk, Vagal/sacral and cardiac.
What are somites ?
Paired blocks of mesoderm either side of neural crest. Specificed by Homeotic genes.
What do somites differentiate to form?
Cartilage –> bone of axial skeleton, muscles of rib cage.
What are the regions of somite ?
Sclerotome (bone and cartilage) , myotome (muscle and dermatome (skin).
What is meant by ‘birth defect’
Congenital malformation that gives either a structural/functional or metabolic disorder at birth
What is meant by ‘malformation’
Mis formation occurs during organogenesis when structures are being formed. Mostly in weeks 3-8.
Why does deformation occur ?
Occurs due to mechanical factors such as low amniotic fluid causing mum’s organs to press on baby –> clubfoot.
What is ‘disruption’
Altering already formed structures through destructive forces eg. amniotic band syndrome
What are ‘syndromes’
Malformations occurring together that have a common cause. Requires diagnosis of the associating factors eg. FAS
What is a ‘teratogen’
anything that disrupts development producing birth defects/malformations
What are the 3 principles of teratogenesis ?
Dosage (amount) , time/length of exposure and Genotype (some more susceptible than others)
What are the major causes of birth defects ?
Chromosomal abnormalities, single gene defects (mutant genes) , environmental
How do chromosomal abnormalities cause birth defects ?
50% of abortions are due to CA. Disruption of apparatus that separates chromosomes during meiotic divisions. Increased risk with age.
What are micro deletions are what are the common sites of damage ?
Deletion spanning only a few contiguous genes. Common at fragile sites eg. CGG repeats.
Which trimester should drugs be avoided ?
First, crucial development of the limbs
What is the effect of tobacco on pregnancy ?
doubles risk of premature birth. Infant weighs less. Nicotine restricts BVs of placenta so less blood to infant.
What is a Giemsa stain? what does a lighter area show?
Differential stain to show G banding in chromosomes. Light = less dense, more GC (guanine/cytosine) and more transcriptionally active.
What is a telomere?
DNA and protein cap, prevents damage to DNA end and helps stabilise. Tethered to the nuclear membrane
What is a centromere?
Repeating DNA connects 2 sister chromatids.
What is nondisjunction and what does it cause ?
Gamete produced with 2 copies of the same chromosome. Cause of mosaicism.