Chapter 5- Genetic Disorders Flashcards
What types of mutations are highly penetrant and follow classic Mendelian inheritance patterns?
Single genes with large effects
What are the most common cause of genetic disorders?
Multi-genetic disorders
What is a mutation?
Permanent change in DNA
What is the difference between a germ cell and somatic mutation?
Germ cell- transmitted to offspring
Somatic- not transmissible
What kind of mutations are there?
- Coding
- Non-coding- enhancer or promoter
- Frameshift
- Trinucleotide repeat- amplification of triplet nt sequences
What are the two kinds of point mutations?
- Missense- single nt substitution changes the triplet base code
- Nonsense- single nt substitution creates a stop codon
What are the two types of missense mutations?
- Conservative- protein structure remains
2. Nonconservative- change affects the final protein structure
What is penetrance?
The percentage of individuals that carry the gene AND express the trait
What is variable expressivity?
Variation in the effect caused by the mutation (expression varies among individuals)
What is pleiotropism?
Multiple possible end effects of a single mutation (expressions within a person varies)
What is genetic heterogeneity?
Multiple different mutations can lead to the same outcome
What are the different transmission patterns of single gene disorders?
- Autosomal dominant- LOF
- Autosomal recessive- complete penetrance, metabolism errors
- X-linked- sex linked recessive, fully expressed in men
What are the consequences of enzyme defects?
Reduced synthesis
Toxic substrate accumulation
Decreased end product
Decreased substrate metabolism
Defects in receptors and transport
Alterations in non-enzyme proteins
Adverse drug reactions
What disorders are associated with structural proteins?
Marfan syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
What are the characteristics of Marfan syndrome?
Mutation in 15q21.1 (fibrillin-1 gene)
Affects skeletal, ocular, CV and integumentary systems
Tall, long extremities, scoliosis
What are the characteristics of Ehlers-Danilo’s syndrome?
Defect in collagen synthesis
Fragile skin and poor wound healing
Hyper mobile joints
What are the characteristics of familial hypercholesterolemia?
Mutation in LDL receptor
Loss of feedback control (increased circulating cholesterol)
What disorders are associated with enzyme defects?
Lysosomal storage diseases
Tay-Sachs disease
Niemann-Pick
Gaucher disease
Mucopolysaccharidoses
Glycogen storage diseases
Allaptonuria/ochronosis