What is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder?

What is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder?

• A. Cystic fibrosis
• B. Huntington’s disease
• C. Sickle cell anemia
• D. Tay-Sachs disease

Answer: (B)

Huntington's disease is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder because it is caused by a mutation in a single gene located on one of the non-sex chromosomes (autosomes), specifically chromosome 4. In autosomal dominant inheritance, only one copy of the mutated gene from an affected parent is sufficient to cause the disorder in their offspring. This means that an individual who inherits the mutated gene has a 50% chance of developing the disease, regardless of the other parent's genotype. In Huntington's disease, symptoms typically emerge in mid-adulthood and include progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and emotional disturbances. The distinctive feature of this disorder, as an autosomal dominant condition, is that it can be passed from one generation to the next, leading to family histories filled with the disease. Contrastingly, other disorders mentioned such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease are examples of autosomal recessive conditions, where two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) are necessary for the individual to manifest the disorder.

Huntington's disease is an example of an autosomal dominant disorder because it is caused by a mutation in a single gene located on one of the non-sex chromosomes (autosomes), specifically chromosome 4. In autosomal dominant inheritance, only one copy of the mutated gene from an affected parent is sufficient to cause the disorder in their offspring. This means that an individual who inherits the mutated gene has a 50% chance of developing the disease, regardless of the other parent's genotype.

In Huntington's disease, symptoms typically emerge in mid-adulthood and include progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and emotional disturbances. The distinctive feature of this disorder, as an autosomal dominant condition, is that it can be passed from one generation to the next, leading to family histories filled with the disease.

Contrastingly, other disorders mentioned such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease are examples of autosomal recessive conditions, where two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) are necessary for the individual to manifest the disorder.