GENETICS: BOARDS AND BEYOND Flashcards
A second-semester quadruple screening test reveals decreased levels of all biomarkers, a finding most concerning for
Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18).
Edwards syndrome is most often caused by ?. Less common etiologies include mosaic trisomy 18 and partial trisomy 18.
Maternal nondisjunction during meiosis II
While only associated with the nondisjunction-derived variation of the disease, is the most significant risk factor for autosomal trisomies.
Advanced maternal age
Edwards syndrome: First-trimester biomarkers will likely show decreased β-hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), while a second-trimester quadruple screen will show
Decreased β-hCG, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol (uE3), and inhibin A (note: inhibin A may also be within normal limits).
Edwards syndrome: Additional screenings for definitive diagnosis include
- Ultrasound imaging
- Chorionic villi sampling
- Amniocentesis
- Cell-free fetal DNA
Edwards syndrome: Characteristic features include
low-set ears, a small jaw (micrognathia), cleft lip and palate, clenched hands with overriding fingers, flexed feet (rocker-bottom feet), and congenital heart defects (e.g., ventricular septal defect). Microcephaly, omphalocele, and neural tube defects (e.g., myelomeningocele) can also be seen.
Edward syndrome carries an extremely poor prognosis, with the median survival ranging from ?
3 days to 2 weeks of age
Aplasia cutis, holoprosencephaly, microphthalmia, and polydactyly are clinical features consistent with
Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)
Patau syndrome is also most commonly caused by maternal nondisjunction and is associated with advanced maternal age; however, mothers typically have
A quadruple screen with normal levels of all biomarkers.
A broad chest with widely spaced nipples, cystic hygroma, low-set ears, and a weblike neck are consistent with
Turner syndrome (TS)
Brushfield spots, epicanthal folds, flat facies, and a single palmar crease are consistent with
Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
Down syndrome is the most common autosomal trisomy and is associated with a longer life expectancy than Edward syndrome and Patau syndrome. A quadruple screen showing
Elevated β-hCG and inhibin A
Decreased AFP and estriol
A high-pitched cry, microcephaly, moon facies, and widely spaced eyes are consistent with
Cri-du-chat syndrome
This condition is caused by a congenital deletion in the short arm of chromosome 5 and is associated with severe intellectual disability and cardiac abnormalities.
Cri-du-chat syndrome
First-trimester maternal serum markers will likely show decreased β-hCG and PAPP-A; a second-trimester quadruple screen will likely show decreased β-hCG, AFP, estriol, and inhibin A.
Edwards syndrome
- DNA contained in nucleus of cells
- “Hereditary material”
- Passed to successive generations of cells
Genome
- Portions of DNA/genome
- Code for proteins that carry out specific functions
Genes
- Rod-shaped, cellular organelles
- Single, continuous DNA double helix strand
- Contains a collection of genes (DNA)
Chromosome
- Chromosomes 1 through 22 plus X/Y (sex)
- Two copies each chromosome 1 through 22 (homologous)
46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs
Diploid: two sets of chromosomes (23 pairs)
Somatic cells (most body cells)
“Haploid”: one set of chromosomes
Gametes (reproductive cells)
- S phase of cell cycle
Chromosomes replicate → two sister chromatids - M phase (mitosis): Cell divides
- Daughter cells will contain copies of chromosomes
Mitosis
- “Haploid”: one set of chromosomes
- Produced by meiosis of germ line cells
- Male and female gametes merge in fertilization
- New “diploid” organism formed
Gametes (reproductive cells)
- Alternative forms of gene
- Many genes have several forms
- Often represented by letter (A, a)
Allele
Genes exist in multiple forms (alleles)
Genetic polymorphism
Location of allele on chromosome
Locus (plural loci)
DNA → gene → allele → locus → chromosome
Genetics
- Genetic makeup of a cell or individual
- Often refers to names of two copies of a gene
- Example: Gene A from father, Gene B from mother
- Genotype: AB
- Or two alleles of gene A (A and a): AA, Aa, aa
Genotype
- Physical characteristics that result from genotype
- Example: AB = blue eyes; BB = green eyes
Phenotype
- Common in most individuals
- Example: A = wild type
Wild type gene/allele
- Different from wild type
- Caused by a mutation
- Example: a = mutant
- Individual: AA, Aa, aa
Mutant gene/allele
Two identical copies of a gene (i.e. AA)
Homozygous
Two different copies of a gene (i.e. Aa)
Heterozygous
- DNA of sperm/eggs
- Transmitted to offspring
- Found in every cell in body
Germ line mutations
- Acquired during lifespan of cell
- Not transmitted to offspring
Somatic mutations
Determines phenotype even in individuals with single copy
* Often denoted with capital letters
* Example: Gene has two alleles: A, a
Dominant gene/allele
- Requires two copies to produce phenotype
- Often denoted with lower case letters
- Example: aa = a phenotype; Aa and AA = A phenotype
Recessive gene/allele
- Both alleles contribute to phenotype
- Classic example: ABO Blood Groups
- A gene = A antigen on blood cells
- B gene = B antigen
- O gene = No A or B antigen
- AB individuals
- Express A and B antigens
Codominance
- May cause early COPD and liver disease
- Mutations in AAT gene (produces α1 antitrypsin)
- M = normal allele
- S = moderately low levels protein
- Z = severely reduced protein levels
- Combination of alleles determines protein levels
- MM = normal
- ZZ = severe deficiency
- Other combinations = variable risk of disease
α-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Proportion with allele that express phenotype
- Incomplete penetrance
- Not all individuals with disease mutation develop disease
- Commonly applied to autosomal dominant disorders
- Not all patients with AD disease gene develop disease
- Example BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations
Penetrance
- Genetic mutations that lead to cancer
- Germline gene mutations
- Autosomal dominant
- Not all women with mutations develop cancer
- Implications:
- Variable cancer risk reduction from prophylactic surgery
BRCA1 and BRCA2
- Variations in phenotype of gene
- Different from penetrance
- Classic case: Neurofibromatosis type (NF1)
- Neurocutaneous disorder
- Brain tumors, skin findings
- Autosomal dominant disorder
- 100% penetrance (all individuals have disease)
- Variable disease severity (tumors, skin findings)
Expressivity
- One gene = multiple phenotypic effects and traits
Example: single gene mutation affects skin, brain, eyes - Clinical examples:
- Phenylketonuria (PKU): skin, body odor, mental disability
- Marfan syndrome: Limbs, eyes, blood vessels
- Cystic fibrosis: Lungs, pancreas
- Osteogenesis imperfecta: Bones, eyes, hearing
Pleiotropy
Mutations in tumor suppressor genes
* Genes with many roles
* Gatekeepers that regulate cell cycle progression
* DNA repair genes
* Heterozygous mutation = no disease
* Mutation of both alleles → cancer
* Cancer requires “two hits”
* “Loss of heterozygosity”
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer
Retinoblastoma
* Rare childhood eye malignancy
* Hereditary form (40% of cases)
* One gene mutated in all cells at birth (germline mutation)
* Second somatic mutation “hit”
* Cancer requires only one somatic mutation
* Frequent, multiple tumors
* Tumors at younger age
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer
* Classic example:
- Requires two somatic “hits”
- Two mutations in same cell = rare
- Often a single tumor
- Occurs at a later age
Retinoblastoma: Sporadic form (non-familial)
- Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
- Inherited colorectal cancer syndrome
- Germline mutation in DNA mismatch repair genes
- Second allele is inactivated by mutation
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer
Other Examples: HNPCC (Lynch syndrome)
- Germline mutation of APC gene (tumor suppressor gene)
- Always (100%) progresses to colon cancer
- Treatment: Colon removal (colectomy)
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer
Other Examples: Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
- Syndrome of multiple malignancies at an early age
- Sarcoma, Breast, Leukemia, Adrenal Gland (SBLA) cancer
syndrome - Germline mutation in tumor suppressor gene TP53
- Codes for tumor protein p53
- Delays cell cycle progression to allow for DNA repair
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer
Other Examples: Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Gene differences in cells of same individual
- Mutations in cells → genetic changes
- Individual will be a mixture of cells
Mosaicism
- Can be passed to offspring
- Pure germline mosaicism difficult to detect
- Not present is blood/tissue samples used for analysis
- Offspring disease may appear sporadic
- Can present as recurrent “sporadic” disease in offspring
Mosaicism: Germline mosaicism
- Gene differences in tissues/organs
- 45X/46XX mosaic Turner syndrome (milder form)
- Rare forms of Down syndrome
Mosaicism: Somatic mosaicism
- Rare disorder
- Affects many endocrine organs
- Precocious puberty
Menstruation may occur 2 years old - Fibrous growth in bones
Fractures, deformity - Skin pigmentation
Café-au-lait spots
Irregular borders (“Coast of Maine”)
McCune-Albright Syndrome
- Caused by sporadic mutation in development
Not inherited - Somatic mutation of GNAS gene
- Codes for alpha subunit of G3 protein
- Activates adenylyl cyclase
- Continued stimulation of cAMP signalling
McCune-Albright Syndrome
- “Postzygotic” mutation
- Occurs after fertilization
- Only some tissues/organs affected (mosaicism)
- Clinical phenotype varies depending on which tissues affected
- Germline occurrences of mutation are lethal
- Entire body effected
- Cells with mutation survive only if mixed with normal cells
McCune-Albright Syndrome
- Same phenotype from different genes/mutations
- Different mutations of same allele → same disease
- Different gene (loci) mutations → same disease
- Multiple gene mutations often cause same disease
- Many diseases have multiple genotypes
Genetic Heterogeneity
- Allele = Alternative form of gene
- Allele 1 = mutation X
- Allele 2 = mutation Y
- Both X and Y cause same disease
- X and Y found at same chromosomal locus (position)
- Many alleles possess multiple mutant forms
- One disease = multiple genes = single location
Allelic heterogeneity
- Mutation in beta globin gene
- Wide spectrum of disease depending on mutation
- βo = no function; β1 = some function
Allelic heterogeneity: Beta Thalassemia
- Mutation in CFTR gene
- Over 1400 different mutations described
Allelic heterogeneity: Cystic Fibrosis
- Mutations in different loci cause same phenotype
- Example: Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Causes visual impairment
- Autosomal dominant, recessive, and X-linked forms
- Mutations at 43 different loci can lead to disease
- One disease = multiple genes = multiple locations
Locus heterogeneity
- During meiosis chromosomes exchange segments
- Child inherits “patchwork” of parental chromosomes
- Never exact copy of parental chromosomes
Genetic Recombination
- Suppose father has two alleles of F and M genes
- F and f
- M and m
- F and M found on different chromosomes
- Independent assortment
- Occurs if F and M genes can independently recombine
- 25% chance of each combination in gamete
Independent Assortment
- What if genes on same chromosome?
- If very far apart, crossover may occur in meiosis
- Result: Same combinations as separate chromosomes
Independent Assortment
- If alleles close together: little crossover
- Low occurrence of recombination (Fm or fM)
Independent Assortment
- Frequency of recombined genes (Fm or fM)
- Denoted by Greek letter theta (θ)
- Ranges from zero to 0.5
- Key point: recombination frequency α distance
- Close together: θ = 0
- Far apart: θ = 0.5
- Used for genetic mapping of genes
Recombination Frequency
- Done by studying families
- Track frequency of genetic recombination
- Use frequency to determine relative gene location
Genetic Mapping: linkage Mapping
Tendency of alleles to transmit together
* More linkage = less independent assortment
* Close together (θ = 0) = tightly linked
* Far apart (θ = 0.5) = unlinked
Linkage
- Used to study genes that are very close together
- Recombination very rare
- Family studies impractical
- Done by studying large populations
Linkage Disequilibrium
- Gene A has two polymorphisms: A and a
- A found in 50% of individuals
- a in 50%
- Gene B has two polymorphisms: B and b
- B found in 90% of individuals
- b in 10%
Linkage Equilibrium
Population frequencies should be:
* AB = (0.5) x (0.9) = 0.45
* aB = (0.5) x (0.9) = 0.45
* Ab = (0.5) x (0.1) = 0.05
* ab = (0.5) x (0.1) = 0.05
This is linkage equilibrium
Linkage Equilibrium
- Population frequencies higher/lower than expected
- AB = 0.75 (higher than expected 0.45)
- This haplotype (AB) is in linkage disequilibrium
Linkage Disequilibrium
- Initially close to gene B
- AB transmitted together in a population
- Eventually A and B genes may recombine
- Depends on distance apart and size of population
- LD greatest when gene first enters population (i.e. mutation)
- Fades with successive generations (i.e. population size)
- Fades if distance between genes is greater
Linkage Disequilibrium: Consider new gene mutation A
- Linkage disequilibrium affected by:
- Genetic distance
- Time alleles have been present in population
- Different populations: different degrees of linkage
disequilibrium
Linkage Disequilibrium
- Diploid cells give rise to haploid cells (gametes)
- Unique to “germ cells”
- Spermatocytes
- Oocytes
- Two steps: Meiosis I and Meiosis II
Meiosis
- Diploid → Haploid (“reductive division”)
- Separates homologous chromosomes
Meiosis I
- Chromatids separate
- Four daughter cells
Meiosis II
- “Primary oocytes” form in utero
- Diploid cells
- Just beginning meiosis I
- Arrested in prophase of meiosis I until puberty
- At puberty
- A few primary oocytes complete meiosis 1 each cycle
- Some form polar bodies → degenerate
- Some form secondary oocytes (haploid)
- Meiosis II begins → arrests in metaphase
- Fertilization → completion of meiosis II
Oogenesis
- Abnormal chromosome number
Extra or missing chromosome - Disomy = two copies of a chromosome (normal)
- Monosomy = one copy
- Trisomy = three copies
Aneuploidy
- Failure of chromosome pairs to separate
- Most common mechanism of aneuploidy
- Can occur in meiosis I or II
Meiotic Nondisjunction
- Fertilization of 1n (normal) and 0n gamete
- Usually not viable
- Turner syndrome (45,X)
Only one sex chromosome
Monosomy
- Fertilization of 1n (normal) and 2n gametes
- Not compatible with life for most chromosomes
- Exceptions:
- Trisomy 21 = Down syndrome (95% cases due to NDJ)
- Trisomy 18 = Edward syndrome
- Trisomy 13 = Patau syndrome
Trisomy
- Meiosis I protracted in females
- Begins prenatally, completed at ovulation years later
- Advanced maternal age → ↑ risk trisomy
Maternal meiosis I NDJ errors are a common cause
- Father = 21A and 21B; Mother = 21C and 21D
- Trisomy 21 ACD = Meiosis I nondisjunction in mother
- Trisomy 21 ACC = Meiosis II nondisjunction in mother
Trisomy: cause of NJD suggested by trisomy genotype
- Child has two copies of one parent’s chromosomes
- No copies of other parent’s chromosomes
- Father = 21A and 21B; Mother = 21C and 21D
- Child AA (isodisomy) = Meiosis II error (father)
- Child CD (heterodisomy) = Meiosis I error (mother)
Uniparental Disomy
- Child is euploid
- Normal number of chromosomes
- No aneuploidy
- Usually normal phenotype
- Can lead to phenotype of recessive disease
- Father = Aa (recessive gene for disease)
- Child = aa (two copies of a from father)
Uniparental Disomy
- Fusion of long arms of two chromosomes
- Occurs in acrocentric chromosomes
Chromosomes with centromere near end (13, 14, 21, 22)
Robertsonian Translocation
- Carrier has only 45 chromosomes (one translocated)
- Loss of short arms → normal phenotype (no disease)
- 13-14 and 14-21 are most common
- Main clinical consequences
- Many monosomy and trisomy gametes
- Frequent spontaneous abortions
- Carrier may have child with Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
Robertsonian Translocation
- Can be done in couples with recurrent fetal losses
- Used to diagnose chromosomal imbalances
Karyotype
- Used in studies of populations
- Used to derive genotypes from allele frequencies
- Allelle: one of two or more alternative forms of the same gene
- Key point: Used to study single genes with multiple forms
- Not used for different genes at different loci/chromosomes
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Given gene has two possible alleles: A and a
- Allele A found in 40% of genes (p=0.40)
- Allele a found in 60% of genes (q=0.60)
- What is frequency of genotypes AA, Aa, and aa?
Hardy-Weinberg Law: Example
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
p+ q = 1
p = 0.4
q = 0.6
* Frequency of AA = p2 = 0.16
* Frequency Aa = 2pq = 0.48
* Frequency aa = q2 = 0.36
Hardy-Weinberg Law
p + q = 1
* p = 0.4 → 40% of GENES in population are A
* q = 0.6 → 60% of genes in population are a
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
* p2 = 0.16 → 16% of INDIVIDUALS in population are AA
* 2pq = 0.48 → 48% of individuals in population are Aa
* q2 = 0.36 → 36% of individuals in population are aa
Hardy-Weinberg Law
p = 0.4
q = 0.6
p2 = 0.16
2pq = 0.48
q2 = 0.36
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Large population
- Completely random mating
- No mutations
- No migration in/out of population
- No natural selection
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- If assumptions met, allele frequencies do not change
from one generation to the next - “Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium”
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Very useful in autosomal recessive diseases
- Disease (aa) frequency often known
- Example: 1/5000 individuals have disease
- Carrier (Aa) frequency often unknown
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Disease X caused by recessive gene
- Disease X occurs in 1/4500 children
- q2 = 1/4500 = 0.0002
- q = SQRT (0.0002) = 0.015
- p + q = 1
- p = 1 – 0.015 = 0.985
- Carrier frequency = 2pq
- 2 (0.985) (0.015) = 0.029 = 3%
- Very rare diseases p close to 1.0
- Carrier frequency ≈ 2q
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Special case: X linked disease
- Two male genotypes (XdY or XY)
- Three female genotypes (XX or XdXd or XdX)
Hardy-Weinberg Law
- Consider males and females separately
- Among males
- p + q = 1 (all males are either Xd or X)
- p = frequency healthy males (XY)
- q = frequency diseased males (XdY)
- Males/females have same allele frequencies
- p males = p females
- q males = q females
Hardy-Weinberg Law (X-linked Disease)
Among females
* p2 = frequency healthy females (XX)
* 2pq = frequency carrier females (XdX)
* q2 = frequency diseased females (XdXd)
Hardy-Weinberg Law (X-linked Disease)
- Visual representation of a family
- Often used to study single gene disorders
- Gene passed down through generations
- Some members have disease
- Some members are carriers
- Several typical patterns
- Autosomal recessive genes
- Autosomal dominant genes
- X-linked genes
Pedigree
- Two alleles for a gene (i.e. A = normal; a = disease)
- Only homozygotes (aa) have disease
Autosomal Recessive
- If both parents are carriers (Aa)
- Child can have disease (aa)
- Only 1 in 4 chance of child with disease
- 2 of 4 children will be carriers (Aa)
- 1 of 4 children NOT carriers (AA)
Autosomal Recessive
If both parents are carriers (Aa)
* 50% chance mother gives a to child
* 50% chance father gives a to child
* (0.5) x (0.5) = 0.25 chance child has disease
Autosomal Recessive
- Mother 1/50 chance of being carrier
- Father 1/100 chance of being carrier
- Chance BOTH carriers = (1/100) * (1/50) = 1/5,000
- Chance child affected = (1/4) * (1/5000) = 1/20,000
Autosomal Recessive
- Males and females affected equally
- Few family members with disease
- Often many generations without disease
- Increased risk: Consanguinity
- Parents are related
- Share common ancestors
Autosomal Recessive
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sickle cell anemia
- Hemochromatosis
- Wilson’s disease
- Many others
Autosomal Recessive
- Two alleles for a gene (i.e. A = disease; a = no disease)
- Heterozygotes(Aa) and homozygotes(AA) have disease
Autosomal Dominant
- Males and females affected equally
- One affected parent → 50% offspring with disease
- Male-to-male transmission occurs
Autosomal Dominant
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Huntington’s disease
- Marfan syndrome
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Achondroplasia
- Many others
Autosomal Dominant
- Heterozygote phenotype different from homozygote
- Heterozygotes: less severe form of disease
- Homozygotes: more severe
Incomplete Dominance: semidominant
- Autosomal dominant disorder of bone growth
- Heterozygotes (Dd): Dwarfism
- Homozygotes (DD): Fatal
Incomplete Dominance: semidominant
Classic example: Achondroplasia
- Heterozygotes: total cholesterol 350–550mg/dL
- Homozygotes: 650–1000mg/dL
Incomplete Dominance
Semidominant:
Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Disease gene on X chromosome (Xd)
- Always affects males (XdY)
- Females (XdX) variable
- X-linked recessive = females usually NOT affected
- X-linked dominant = females can be affected
X-linked Disorders
- All males with disease gene have disease
- Most females with disease gene are carriers
X-linked Recessive
- No male-to-male transmission
All fathers pass Y chromosome to sons - Sons of heterozygous mothers: 50% affected
- Classic examples: Hemophilia A and B
X-linked Recessive
- Females very rarely develop disease
- Usually only occurs if homozygous for gene
- Father must have disease and mother must be carrier
- Females can develop disease with skewed lyonization
X-linked Recessive
Results in inactivated X chromosome in females
* One X chromosome undergoes “Lyonization”
* Condensed into heterochromatin with methylated DNA
* Creates a Barr body in female cells
Lyonization
- Random process
- Different inactive X chromosomes in different cells
- Occurs early in development (embryo <100 cells)
- Results in X mosaicism in females
- May cause symptoms in females X-recessive disorders
- “Skewed lyonization”
Lyonization
- Occur in both sexes
- Every daughter of affected male has disease
- All daughters get an X chromosome from father
- Affected father MUST give disease X chromosome to daughter
X-linked Dominant
- Can mimic autosomal dominant pattern
- Key difference: No male-to-male transmission
Fathers always pass Y chromosome to sons
X-linked Dominant
- More severe among males (absence of normal X)
Classic example: Fragile X syndrome
* 2nd most common genetic cause intellectual disability (Down)
* More severe in males
* Often features of autism
* Long, narrow face, large ears and jaw
X-linked Dominant
- Each mitochondria contains DNA (mtDNA)
- Code for mitochondrial proteins
- Organs most affected by gene mutations:
- CNS
- Skeletal muscle
- Rely heavily on aerobic metabolism
Mitochondrial Genes
- Multiple copies of mtDNA in each mitochondria
- Multiple mitochondria in each cell
- All normal or abnormal: Homoplasmy
- Mixture: Heteroplasmy
Mitochondrial Genes: Heteroplasmy
- Depends on amount of normal versus abnormal genes
- Also number of mutant mitochondria in each cell/tissue
Mitochondrial Genes: Mutant gene expression highly variable
- Mitochondrial DNA inherited from mother
- Sperm mitochondria eliminated from embryos
- Homoplasmic mothers → all children have mutation
- Heteroplasmic mothers → variable
Mitochondrial Disorders
- Rare disorders
- Weakness (myopathy), confusion, lactic acidosis
- Wide range of clinical disease expression
- Classic hallmark: Red, ragged fibers
- Seen on muscle biopsy with special stains
- Caused by compensatory proliferation of mitochondria
- Accumulation of mitochondria in muscle fibers visualized
- Mitochondria appear bright red against blue background
Mitochondrial Myopathies
Many traits/diseases depend on multiple genes
* Height
* Heart disease
* Cancer
* “Run in families”
* Do not follow a classic Mendelian pattern
Polygenic Inheritance
- Genes , lifestyle, environment → disease
- Seen in many diseases
- Diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- Hypertension
Multifactorial Inheritance
Epigenetic phenomenon
* Alteration in gene expression
* Different expression in maternal/paternal genes
Imprinting
- Occurs during gametogenesis (before fertilization)
- Genes “marked” as being paternal/maternal in origin
- Often by methylation of cytosine in DNA
Imprinting
- After conception, imprinting controls gene expression
- “Imprinted genes”: Only one allele expressed
- Non-imprinted genes: Both alleles expressed
Imprinting
- Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes
- Both involve abnormal chromosome 15q11-q13
- “PWS/AS region”
- Paternal copy abnormal: Prader-Willi
- Maternal copy abnormal: Angelman
- Differences due to imprinting
Imprinting Syndromes
- Normally expressed on paternal chromosome 15
- NOT normally expressed on maternal copy
PWS genes
- Normally expressed on maternal chromosome 15
- NOT normally expressed on paternal copy
UBE3A
- Loss of function of paternal copy of PWS gene
Prader-Willi Syndrome
- ~75% cases from deletion of paternal gene
- Most cases due to sporadic mutation
- ~25% from maternal uniparental disomy
- Two copies of maternal gene inherited
- No copies of paternal gene
Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Most common “syndromic” cause of obesity
- Hypotonia
- Newborn feeding problems
- Poor suck reflex
- Delayed milestones
- Hyperphagia and obesity
- Begins in early childhood
- Intellectual disability (mild)
- Contrast with AS (severe)
- Hypogonadism
- Delayed puberty
Prader-Willi Syndrom
Abnormal maternal chromosome 15q11-q13
* Lack of expression of UBE3A
Angelman Syndrome
- Majority of cases caused by deletions
- Only about 3-5% from uniparental disomy
- Paternal disomy much less common than maternal
- Non-disjunction less common
Angelman Syndrome
AAT is an inhibitor of the enzyme elastase. In its absence, elastase activity in neutrophils and alveolar macrophages is excessive. This leads to the ? similar to the pathology of emphysema and COPD.
Destruction of alveoli
The classic presentation of AAT deficiency is ?. Many patients are presumed to have asthma until the diagnosis of AAT deficiency is made.
a non-smoker with symptoms of chronic lung disease including cough, sputum production, and wheezing
AAT deficiency is an example of a genetic disorder with ?. Both copies of the AAT gene are expressed in affected individuals. The severity of the disease depends on both alleles because each contributes to the total amount of available AAT enzyme. This patient’s sister is heterozygous for the same AAT mutation as the patient but has no symptoms. She must have one functional copy of the gene which can make sufficient AAT enzyme such that lung disease does not occur.
Codominant inheritance
Genes for the A and B antigens on red cells are codominant meaning both alleles contribute to the phenotype. Since the baby has genes for A and B antigens, both the A and the B antigen will be ? on red blood cells leading to blood type AB in the child.
Expressed
What is Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)?
NF1 is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by skin, nervous system, and eye abnormalities.
What type of inheritance pattern does NF1 follow?
NF1 is an autosomal dominant disorder.
Which gene is mutated in NF1, and on which chromosome is it located?
NF1 gene mutations occur on chromosome 17.
Where are freckles commonly found in individuals with NF1?
Freckles are often found in skin folds like the axilla, groin, or elbow.
What are neurofibromas, and how do they appear?
Neurofibromas are benign tumors that develop in cutaneous nerves, appearing as soft, fleshy, pedunculated growths on the skin.
Are neurofibromas malignant or benign?
Neurofibromas are benign but can be the most disfiguring aspect of NF1.
What are neurocutaneous disorders?
Neurocutaneous disorders involve structures derived from the ectoderm, including the skin, nervous system, and eyes.
NFT1 is famous for
Variable expressivity
What is the inheritance pattern of NF1?
NF1 is an autosomal dominant disorder.
What does 100% penetrance mean for NF1?
It means that all individuals with the disease gene will develop the disease.
Can individuals with NF1 have differing clinical presentations?
Yes, individuals can have differing clinical presentations and severity of symptoms.
Penetrance is different from expressivity. Penetrance refers to the proportion of affected individuals who will show evidence of disease. NFT has 100% penetrance, not incomplete penetrance.
All carriers have evidence of disease to some degree
What is gene imprinting?
Imprinting refers to alterations in gene expression among different cells in the same individual.
Does gene imprinting occur in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)?
No, imprinting does not occur in NF1.
In which syndromes does gene imprinting occur?
Gene imprinting occurs in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes.
Somatic mosaicism occurs when mutations arise during early development in utero after some normal cells without the mutation have formed. This leads to a mosaic (i.e., mixture) of somatic cells, some with the disease gene (derived from the original cell with the mutation) and others without the disease gene (derived from normal cells that formed in utero prior to the mutation).
Somatic mosaicism occurs among new mutations that develop in the embryo. Inherited mutations that run in families cannot lead to somatic mosaicism as the gene mutation is inherited and therefore present in all cells.
What is the significance of imprinting in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes?
The expression of genes differs depending on whether the gene is inherited from the mother or the father, leading to distinct clinical features in these syndromes
Refers to a mutation present in some but not all germline cells (i.e., eggs and sperm) of an affected individual.
Germline mosaicism
What is germline mosaicism?
Germline mosaicism refers to a mutation present in some but not all germline cells (eggs and sperm) of an affected individual.
How does germline mosaicism affect genetic testing results?
A parent may test negative for a mutation using standard techniques that sample DNA from somatic cells, even if they carry the mutation in germline cells.
In the case of a parent who is a germline mosaic for an OI mutation, what might happen during genetic testing?
The mutation can be missed even if germline cells are tested, as it may only be present in some of the germline cells.
Why might standard genetic testing fail to detect certain mutations in germline mosaicism?
Because the mutation is not present in all germline cells, leading to potential false negatives in testing.
Locus heterogeneity refers to disorders that derive from more than one gene mutation.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a classic example.
What is phenylketonuria (PKU)?
KU is a rare enzyme deficiency syndrome caused by a lack of activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH).
What happens to phenylalanine in children with PKU?
They cannot metabolize phenylalanine into tyrosine, leading to accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites.
What are some symptoms of PKU?
Symptoms include a musty body odor and central nervous system dysfunction.
Why do affected children with PKU often have blond hair and pale skin?
This is due to the lack of tyrosine, which is used to synthesize the pigment melanin.
How does newborn screening affect the prevalence of PKU?
Widespread newborn screening has made PKU rarely seen in the developed world.
What is pleiotropy in genetics?
Pleiotropy refers to the production of multiple effects caused by a single mutation affecting different systems or organs.
Why is liver dysfunction not a prominent feature of PKU despite the presence of the PAH mutation in hepatocytes?
While all cells carry the mutation, the liver’s dysfunction is not as pronounced as the effects seen in the skin and nervous system.
Name other single-gene disorders that demonstrate pleiotropic effects.
Examples include Marfan syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
How can liver transplantation help in treating PKU?
Liver transplantation can correct PKU because the donor organ can produce the PAH enzyme.
HLA genes often display
Linkage disequilibrium
Linkage disequilibrium
Refers to genes found together at a frequency different than expected by independent assortment.
In the question, the frequency of DRB10301 is 0.2 and that of DRB11501 is 0.4. If these two genes sorted independently, the combined frequency should be 0.2 x 0.4 = 0.08. Instead, the combined frequency is higher at 0.3.
This is evidence of linkage disequilibrium.
If natural selection favors a particular combination of alleles, that combination will display LD because certain recombinants will either die or live longer. LD may also occur when an allele first arises from a new mutation. It takes many generations for recombination to occur to a significant degree. Before this happens, gene combinations may display LD. For this reason, LD is an important tool in evolutionary biology. Other potential causes of LD are
Random genetic drift and non-random mating.
Down syndrome occurs in children born with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two (trisomy 21). Most commonly, this occurs due to spontaneous maternal nondisjunction in meiosis I. More than 90% of cases of Down syndrome result from this type of genetic error. When this happens, the risk of a second child with Down syndrome is relatively low (about 1%) although higher than for women without a prior Down syndrome child.
In about 3% of cases of Down syndrome, a ? in one parent leads to trisomy 21.
Robertsonian translocation
In a Robertsonian translocation, the long arms of two chromosomes are fused. The carrier of a Robertsonian translocation will have no evidence of a genetic disorder but will have ? instead of 46 chromosomes. If the fused chromosome is passed to an offspring, the child may develop trisomy.
Aneuploidy with 45
Chromosomes 14 and 21 commonly fuse in a Robertsonian translocation due to their acrocentric size. In these chromosomes, the centromere is close to the end making a large long arm and very small short arm. If a parent passes the fused 21;14 chromosome and a normal chromosome 21 to an offspring,
Down syndrome will occur