Newborn Screening Flashcards
What were the major breakthroughs in the 1960s w/ newborn screening?
PKU screening test
large scale genetic screen thru filter paper blood samples
What federal program supports newborn screening?
Maternal and Child Health Bureau of Health Resources and Services Administration
States routine screen for ____ metabolic & genetic diseases?
30
Which factors are considered when each state decides which disorders to screen for?
prevalence detectability treatment availability outcome overall cost effectiveness
Originally, screening was interested in causes of _______. But now, that scope has widened.
causes of mental retardation
What are the main screening programs in the U.S.?
US newborn screening program
US genetics program
Hearing screening
Regional Programs
Which institution creates the rules for genetic & non-genetic screening?
National Newborn Screening & Global Resource Center
What are some technological goals for the future of newborn screenings?
improving: sensitivity, specificity, scope
* *allowing genotyping as routine primary screen instead of secondary confirmation
Why is hearing screening important for newborns?
1-3/1000 babies has some degree of hearing loss
without newborn screening difficult to detect hearing loss in the first months of the baby’s life. This can detect in first few days & allow for early treatment.
With a lab evaluation of a newborn, which tests are performed? Which specimens are taken?
Specimens: blood, feces, urine
Tests: protein analysis, DNA studies
What is the Guthrie test?
it takes a sample of blood from the baby’s heel & helps doctors diagnose inborn errors of metabolism.
What is the progression of testing–from screening to diagnostic?
- Routine Blood & Urine Tests
- Parasitological Tests (toxoplasmosis)
- Second level metabolic screening
- Tertiary biochemical or molecular genetic testing for diagnostic confirmation.
What are some second level tests?
Urine metabolic screen
Urine Organic Acid Analysis
Plasma Amino Acid Analysis
DNA tests
What does the urine organic acid analysis use?
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
What does the plasma amino acid analysis use?
mass spectrometry
What are some of the tertiary studies?
These are diagnostic.
Molecular Diagnostics or
Biopsy (w/ enzyme analysis) of the tissue in question (liver, skin, muscle etc)
How do you prepare a sample for mass spectrometry?
Blood from baby’s heel Extract the proteins from the blood. Use electrophoresis to separate the proteins based on size? Enzymatic digestions of proteins. Liquid chromatography
How does mass spectrometry work with tests?
Sample Inlet Ionization & Adsorption of excess energy Fragmentation (dissociation) Mass Analysis Detection Ex: see a lot of phenylalanine. Think: PKU.
What is the difference b/w active proteins & structural proteins?
Active: perform chemical functions
Structural: make up the physical structure of the organism.
How do you prepare a sample for sequencing & genomic analysis?
dried blood sample
DNA extraction & purification
sequencing & genomic analysis
**check for single or multiple nucleotide mutations
How do you prepare a sample for mapping mutations?
fresh blood samples
white blood cell cultures
karyotype
DNA probes for different gene targets Ex: FISH
What is a monogenic trait?
a phenotypic trait that is controlled by only one gene.
What is a polygenic trait?
a phenotypic trait that is controlled by multiple gene loci.
What does a silent mutation do to enzyme function?
this is something that does not alter the wild type enzyme function.
What is the result of a null mutation on enzyme function?
this creates a completely non-functional version of the wild type enzyme
What does a leaky mutation do to enzyme function?
it reduces, but doesn’t destroy expression of the wild type enzyme
T/F Mutation in one gene can have a cascade effect.
True. As seen in PKU.
What is an inborn error of metabolism?
inherited deficiency of a key step in a critical metabolic pathway
If A–>B–>C & the enzyme that allows B–>C is defective….what are the treatment options?
symptomatic therapy give more C limit intake of A & B activate alternative metabolic pathways help the enzymatic activity (stabilization, gene transfer etc.)
What is the inheritance pattern of cystic fibrosis?
autosomal recessive
What causes CF? What is this disease characterized by?
CF: altered synthesis of CFTR: a channel protein in the lungs.
abnormally thick mucus secretions in the lungs & digestive system.
What does the CFTR channel in the lungs do?
allow H20 & Cl- to flow freely in & out of the cells.
What is the most common mutation that causes CF?
ΔF508-CFTR
occurs in more than 90% of patients
What is the inheritance pattern of sickle cell disease?
autosomal recessive
What’s the deal with sickle cell disease?
inherited abnormalities in the function of hemoglobin
RBCs sickle as a result: become crescent-shaped, sticky, hard, can’t move smoothly through the body.
What are the 2 main types of sickle cell disease?
sickle cell anemia
sickle beta thalassemia
What is the base substitution that causes sickle cell disease frequently?
valine is placed in instead of glutamate. Hemoglobin is less hydrophilic as a result.
What is the fraction of African Americans who are carriers for sickle cell disease?
1/12
Describe the structure of hemoglobin.
4 protein subunits
2 alpha subunits
2 beta subunits (HBB gene encoded)