Genetic Disorders Flashcards
3 causes of disease
- Genetic
- E.g. Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease
- Purely environmental
- E.g. mercury poisoning
- Combination
- E.g. Diabetes mellitus type II, HTN
3 types of purely genetic disease
- Monogenic: Mendelian inheritance, a single gene is involved
- Polygenic: complex inheritance pattern, many genes are involved
Cytogenic: involves large scale changes in chromosomes
human somatic cells
- 23 pairs of different chromosomes in nuclei (22 autosomes, 1 pair of sex chromosomes)
Members of each pair of autosomes are homologs (1 derived from mother, 1 from father)
genetics terms
gene, locus, allele, homozygous, heterozygous, genotype, phenotype
- Gene: length of DNA that codes for a specific protein
- Locus: specific location of a gene on a chromosome
- Allele: different DNA sequence for a particular gene
- Homozygous: same alleles
- Heterozygous: different alleles
- Genotype: refers to a person’s individual alleles and precise genetic makeup
- Phenotype: physical or physiological manifestation of genotype
genetics terms:
cytogenics, karyotype, FISH, Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization
- Cytogenics: study of chromosomes and their abnormalities
-
Karyotype: chromosomes are displayed according to their length
- Usually obtained from the lymphocytes in the blood (46XX, 46XY)
- FISH: uses chemically tagged chromosome specific DNA probe to label a chromosome and visualize it under a fluorescent microscope
-
Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization: compares the child’s DNA with a control DNA to identify microdeletions or microduplications
- Revolutionized cytogenetic testing
- High diagnostic yield of genomic abnormalities
- This technique is replacing FISH for subtelomere imbalances
4 categories of genetic disorders
- Chromosomal
- Single gene
- Multifactorial
- Mitochondrial
chromosomal disorders
- Altered structure or number
- Types
- Deletions
- Inversions
- Duplications
- Translocations
- Incidence
- 10-15% of human conceptions
- 1/160 live births
- Leading cause of miscarriage
- Generally are not hereditary
characteristics of chromosomal disorders
- Most are associated with developmental delay and cognitive impairment
- Large number of genes are involved with CNS development
- Characteristic craniofacial features
- Delayed growth, congenital malformations
characteristics of chromosomal disorders
- Most are associated with developmental delay and cognitive impairment
- Large number of genes are involved with CNS development
- Characteristic craniofacial features
- Delayed growth, congenital malformations
Chromosomal Disorders: Alterations in Number
- Polyploidy: complete extra set (all are lethal)
-
Aneuploidy: absence (monosomy) or duplication (trisomy) of a chromosome in a cell
- Usually only one chromosome is affected
-
Autosomal monosomy
- Rarely survive
-
Mosaicism: most are due to a full trisomy conception followed by loss of extra chromosomes in some cells during mitosis in the embryo
- Milder clinical manifestation
common trisomies
- Down Syndrome (trisomy 21)
- Edwards Syndrome (trisomy 18)
- Patau Syndrome (trisomy 13)
- *Nearly all are associated with advanced maternal age
Chromosomal Disorders: Alterations in Structure
- Deletion: caused by a chromosome break
- Translocation: interchange of genetic material between nonhomologous chromosomes
-
Reciprocal translocation: two breaks in different chromosomes with an equal exchange of genetic material
- Carriers are usually normal but not offspring
single gene disorders
- Types
- Autosomal dominant
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Neurofibromatosis
- Autosomal recessive
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hurler Syndrome
- PKU
- SMA
- Sex linked
- Hemophilia A
- Fragile X
- Lesch-Nyhan
- Rett
- Autosomal dominant
Monogenic diseases of enzyme proteins
- Genetic mutations in the genes that code for enzymes are the culprit behind enzyme deficiency
- Enzyme deficiency leads to accumulation of precursors and likely disease
- “Metabolic disorders”
- Amino acid metabolism
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Lysosomal storage
- Urea cycle disorders
polygenic disease
- For many common diseases, genetic susceptibility genes are implicated as opposed to single gene inheritance
- Genetic patterns in these disorders are difficult to study because of the many factors involved
- Traits in which variation is thought to be caused by the combined effects of multiple genes are polygenic traits
- When environmental factors are also believed to cause variation in that trait, the term multifactorial is used
multifactorial disorders
- Autism: a severe neurodevelopmental disorder in which 15 susceptibility loci have been identified that each make an additive contribution to the phenotype
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: an autoimmune disorder involving immune destruction of the beta cells
- Many loci implicated in this disease, with at least 12-20 minor susceptibility loci and one major locus discerned in humans
core competencies for health care professionals
- Need to know how and when to make a referral
- *PTs practice as independent and skilled practitioners
- Need to identify S&S and take appropriate family history
- Understand the disease etiology and pathogenesis, prognostic indicators, treatment ramifications, neurological outcomes, and lifespan issues
- Appreciate one’s limitations in genetics and expertise and identify the need for continuing education
- Understand the psychosocial and ethical implications of genetic service
- Know when and how to make a referral
Genetic Diseases: When to Make a Referral
- History of dysmorphology
- Brain malformations
- Epilepsy
- Abnormal CT
- EEG
- Abnormal tone
- Weakness
- Motor control
- Discoordination
- Delayed development
- Sensory disturbances
psychosocial aspects
- Early genetic testing is important for family planning
- Preimplantation genetic testing
- Respect for the family’s decision regardless of the outcome of genetic testing
3 forms of down syndrome
- Trisomy 21
- Most common form
- Translocation
- The extra chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome (usually 14, 21, or 22)
- Mosaicism
- Least frequent form
- Some cells have 47 chromosomes and some have 46
- Parents may be a carrier and at increased risk
general phenotypic features of down syndrome
Hypoplasia is a common element in many of the phenotypic features of individuals with Down Syndrome