Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134604718
Author: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer, Michael A. Palladino, Darrell Killian
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 15, Problem 1CS

Six months pregnant, an expectant mother had a routine ultrasound that showed that the limbs of the fetus were unusually short. Her physician suspected that the baby might have a genetic form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, an autosomal dominant trait occurring with a frequency of about 1 in 27,000 births. The parents were directed to a genetic counselor to discuss this diagnosis. In the conference, they learned that achondroplasia is caused by a mutant allele. Sometimes it is passed from one generation to another, but in 80 percent of all cases it is the result of a spontaneous mutation that arises in a gamete of one of the parents. They also learned that most children with achondroplasia have normal intelligence and a normal life span.

What information would be most relevant to concluding which of the two mutation origins, inherited or new, most likely pertains in this case? How does this conclusion impact on this couple's decision to have more children?

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Achondroplasia is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by disproportionate short stature: the legs and arms of people with achondroplasia are short compared with the head and trunk. The disorder is due to a base substitution in the gene, located on the short arm of chromosome 4, that encodes fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). Although achondroplasia is clearly inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, more than 80% of the people who have achondroplasia are born to parents with normal stature. This high percentage indicates that most cases are caused by newly arising mutations; these cases (not inherited from an affected parent) are referred to as sporadic. Studies have demonstrated that sporadic cases of achondroplasia are almost always caused by mutations inherited from the father (paternal mutations). In addition, the occurrence of achondroplasia is higher among the children of older fathers; approximately 50% of children with achondroplasia are born to fathers…
Six months pregnant, an expectant mother had a routine ultrasound that showed that the limbs of the fetus were unusually short. Her physician suspected that the baby might have a genetic form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, an autosomal dominant trait occurring with a frequency of about 1 in 27,000 births. The parents were directed to a genetic counselor to discuss this diagnosis. In the conference, they learned that achondroplasia is caused by a mutant allele. Sometimes it is passed from one generation to another, but in 80 percent of all cases it is the result of a spontaneous mutation that arises in a gamete of one of the parents. They also learned that most children with achondroplasia have normal intelligence and a normal life span. 1. What information would be most relevant to concluding which of the two mutation origins, inherited or new, most likely pertains in this case? How does this conclusion impact on this couple’s decision to have more children? 2. It has been…
A couple is planning a family, but since each has a brother having the sickle-cell disorder, they are worried that their kids might develop the disorder too. Neither of them nor their respective parents have the disorder. Which of the following will be your smartest advice as a genetic counsellor?   One of four of their children can be expected to have sickle cell. It is possible that none of their kids will have the disorder, but tests should be carried out on both of them to confirm. All of their children will have sickle-cell disorder. There is no chance of any of their kids having sickle cell.

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Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)

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