Genetic Diseases Flashcards
What are the 5 classifications of genetic disorders?
1) Multifactorial: common conditions, variants from the environment, not technically mutation but to do with some mutated allele
2) Single gene
3) Chromosomal
4) Mitochondrial
5) Somatic mutations (eg. cancer): mutations affecting somatic cells that can only affect those cells and their off spring so cannot be passed on to future generations
What is a mendelian disease?
A disease caused by a single gene mutation eg. sickle cell disease
In genetics what are fully penetrant genes?
environmental factors and other genes have no effect
In genetics what are low penetrant genes?
gene plays a part along with other genes and environmental factors in determining a persons susceptibility to a disease
Multiple sclerosis is a good example of a mendelian disease or a multifactorial disease?
Multifactorial disease - genetic factors play a part in determining susceptibility but each individual factor has very low penetrance
What is the genetic problem in chromosomal disorders?
Chromosomal imbalance (changes in chromosome number) causes alteration in gene dosage ie. the amount of genetic information and the amount of proteins produced
What is the genetic influence in multifactorial diseases?
Environmental influences act on a genetic predisposition to produce a liability to a disease, one organ system tends to be affected, person affected if liability is above the threshold
What is mendelian inheritance?
Autosomal dominant or recessive or sex linked inheritance
How many organ systems are affected in chromosomal genetic disorders?
Multiple organ systems affected
Thousands of genes may be involved
What are the 2 parts to a chromosome?
Telomere = each end - dna and protein cap ensures replication of the tip, tethers to nuclear membrane p arm (short) q arm (long) centromere joining the p and q arm - joins sister chromatids, essential for chromosome segregation at cell division
What are the clinical features of down syndrome?
1) Round face
2) Protruding tongue
3) Upslanting plapebral fissures
4) Epicantic folds
5) Developmental delay
6) Large sandal gap
7) Single palm crease
What are the ultrasound features of down syndrome?
1) Short femurs
2) Nuchal translucency (nape of the neck)
3) Echogenic bowel (bowel appears brighter than it should be)
4) CP cysts (cysts within the choroid plexus of the brain)
What are the 3 different patterns of chromosomes that can cause down syndrome, and which is more common?
1) 3 separate copies of chromosome 21 - trisomy 21 (95%)
2) Robertsonian translocation (4%)
3) Mosaicism - normal and trisomy 21 cell lines, often occurs post zygotically
What is non dysjunction?
Chromosomes dont segregate correctly during nuclear division, normally line up on the spindles and are pulled to opposite poles, but sometimes this doesnt occur correctly and 2 homolagous chromosomes get pulled to the same side, you end up with 2 of the same chromosome on one side and trisomy occurs - also have monosomy which is generally catastophic!
Which chromosomes can a robertsonian translocation happen in and what characteristic of these chromosomes allows that to occur?
13,14,15,21,22
They are accrocentric (centromere is postitioned so that one arm is much shorter than the other)
Translocations can occur in other chromosomes but dont lead to a viable foetus
What trisomy occurs in Edwards syndrome and what defects is it associated with?
Trisomy 18
Associated with multiple malformations (especially heart and kidneys)
Clenched hands with overlapping fingers
What trisomy occurs in Patau syndrome and what defects is it associated with?
Trisomy 13
Associated with multiple malformations
Affects midline structures, incomplete lobation of the brain, cleft lip, congenital heart defects
What genetic abnormality occurs in Klinefelter syndrome, what defects is it associated with?
47, XXY
Male phenotype
Infertility (atophic testes do not produce sperm)
Tall
Poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics in some (lack of testosterone)
Gynaecomastia (enlargement of male breasts) and osteoporosis
Hypogonadism and oligiospermia (deficiency of sperm in the semen)
What genetic abnormality occurs in Turner syndrome and what defects is it associated with?
45, X
Female phenotype
Many lost spontaneously in pregnancy
Primary Amenorrhoea
Short stature
Congenital heart disease (coarctation of the aorta)
Puffy feet
Redundant skin at the back of the neck
Low hair line, shield shaped chest, narrow hips
Histology of gonads: ovarian corticol strome devoid of some germ cell elements
What is a common cause of numerical chromosomal abnormalities?
Non dysjunction
In germ cells at meiosis, if occurs in somatic cells, leads to mosaicism
What happens in autosomal monosomies?
Foetus cant survive - fewer serious effects from sex chromosome anomalies
What is a microdeletion?
Bit of chromosome that is missing is too small to be seen down a microscope, identified using specific cytogenetic techniques
DiGeorge/Velocardiofacial syndrome (22, q11) is caused by what kind of genetic abnormality and gives rise to what genetic defects?
Microdeletion
Small mouth, prominent nose, heart defects including tetralogy of fallot, interrupted aortic arch, VSD, truncus arteriosus
Other than DiGeorge/Velocardiofacial syndrome, what 2 other syndromes are caused by microdeletions?
Cat Eye Syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome
Williams beuren syndrome
What is the process of FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridisation)?
1) DNA is denatured
2) Fluorescent probe is added which can be seen down a microscope
3) Absence of a fluoroscent spot indicates a missing or mutated gene
Which kind of genetic abnormalities would you use FISH to identify?
Microdeletions as they are too small to be seen down a microscope
Williams-Beuren syndrome is caused by a microdeletion, what defects does it give rise to?
1) Bright eyes, stellate irises
2) Upturned nose
3) Wide mouth
4) Heart defect
Huntingtons disease is caused by what kind of genetic abnormality, and what are its characteristics?
Single gene disorder, Mendelian inheritance
Advanced stage = involuntary movements of the head
Before this gradual neurodegradation as loss of grey and white matter in the brain
Early stages, forgetfullness, irritability, inability to make a decision
Familial hypercholesterolaemia is caused by what kind of genetic abnormality, and what is its clinical presentation?
Single gene disorder, mendelian inheritance, mutation in a large gene
Deposition of cholesterol in the joints, particularly the achilles tendon
Arch of cholesterol in the eye
Major problem is increased risk of heart disease
What test could you do for familial hypercholesterolaemia?
Biochemistry test - look at levels of protein or activity of an enzyme (in this case LDL cholesterol levels)
What kind of genetic abnormality causes CF?
Single gene mutation
Autosomal sensorineural recessive deafness is caused by what genetic abnormality?
Single gene
Deletion of a single guanine nucleotide on chromosome 21, common cause of deafness
Inherited deafness may be caused by a variety of different mutations though!
What kind of genetic abnormality is the cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and what is its clinical presentation?
Single gene - mutation in the gene that codes for dystrophin
Affected children cant stand up and have to use Gower’s manoeuvre (pushing self up on knees)
What is needed to confirm the initial diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Muscle biopsy, dystrophin is lost and structure of muscle is disorganised, irregular arrangement and fibrous tissue also forms as muscle tissue is trying to repair itself into new myo tubes
What is mitochondrial inheritance?
Mutations in the circular chromosome of mitochondrial DNA
What is abnormal about mitochondrial inheritance?
No mitochondrial DNA come from the father, all comes from the mother, so mitochondrial mutations can only be inherited from the mother
What is the genetic abnormality in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy?
Mitochondrial DNA mutation
Need mitochondria to make eye muscles work - with mutation they dont function properly
What is imprinting?
Process by which certain genes are expressed in a ‘parent of origin’ manner, if fathers allele is imprinted then only mother will be expressed and visa versa, appropriate expression of imprinted genes is important for normal development, when this goes wrong it can cause disease
How does imprinting occur?
Epigenetic process that involves DNA methylation and histone methylation in order to achieve the expression of only one allele without altering the gene sequence, these epigenetic markers are established in the germ line and maintained throughout mitotic divisions in the somatic cells of an organism
Other than caused by microdeletions what other genetic abnormality can cause Prader Willi syndrome and what are the defects associated with it?
Incorrect imprinting - 7 genes on chromosome 15 are deleted or unexpressed
Defects = low muscle tone, short stature, incomplete sexual development, cognitive disabilities, problem behaviours and a chronic feeling of hunger that can lead to excessive eating and life threatening obesity
What kind of mutations is cancer generally caused by?
Somatic mutations - can be mutations in genes which pre dispose to cancer syndromes and a small segment of familial hereditary cancer cells
What is the genetic basis of cancer and why is there generally an early onset of inhereted familial cancer in children?
1) Need 2 mutations to occur so a gene becomes inactivated leading to a loss of control of growth and unchecked cell proliferation
2) In dominantly inherited familial cancer syndromes an altered allele (of tumour suppressor or oncogene) is inherited so is in all body cells containing genetic material
3) When a second (previously normal allele) becomes inactivated you get out of control growth and unchecked cell proliferation