Chapter 5 Flashcards
(151 cards)
what is polymorphism?
Variations in genes within a population
what does it mean when a disease is said to be polygenic?
That it takes multiple different polymorphisms for the disease to present.
Define mutation.
Permanent change in the DNA.
What is a point mutation and what is the consequence?
A change in which a single base is substituted with a different base. It may alter the code in a triplet of bases and lead to the replacement of one amino acid by another in the gene product.
What is a missense mutation?
A point mutation where the meaning of the sequence of the encoded protein has been altered.
What is a conservative missense mutation?
If the substituted amino acid due to a point mutation is biochemically similar to the original, typically causing little change in the function of the protein.
What is a nonconversative missense mutation?
When the a point mutation replaces normal amino acid with a biochemically different one.
The type of mutation seen in sickle cell anemia is an example of what kind of mutation?
nonconversative missense mutation
In biochemistry of sickle cell anemia, explain what the nucleotide triplet change is, what the amino acid change is, and what the protein change is.
within a coding sequence when the normal CTC (or GAG in mRNA) which encodes glutamic acid is changed to CAC (or GUG in mRNA) which encodes valine. This single amino acid substitution alters the physiochemical properties of hemoglobin protein.
What is a nonsensse mutation?
When a point mutation within a coding sequence changes the amino acid codon to a terminator, or stop codon.
What is the type of mutation seen in the disease beta-thalassemia?
nonsense mutation (type of point mutation) within a coding sequence
In beta thalassemia, explain the biochemistry in terms of nucleotide change, codon change, and resulting protein change.
Due to the nonsense mutation within a coding sequence, the codon for glutamine (CAG) creates a stop codon (UAG) where the C was substituted with a U. This change leads to premature termination of beta-globin gene translation, and the short peptide that is produced is rapidly degraded.
Cystic fibrosis is an example where a deletion of a multiple of three AA such that reading frame is kept intact. Deletion of what amino acid leads to the disease? What chromosome is involved?
Amino acid 508 (phenylalanine) on chromosome 7.
Deletion at the ABO (glycostransferase) locus is an example of a _ mutation responsible for the O allele.
Frameshift mutation.
Four-base insertion in the _ gene leading to a frameshift mutation is the major cause of Tay-Sachs disease in Ashkenazi Jew
Hexosaminidase A
In trinucleotide-repeat mutations, almost all affected sequences share what nucleotides?
G and C
In Fragile X syndrome, there are about 250-4000 tandem repeats of _ sequence within a gene called _.
CGG
familial mental retardation 1 (FMR1)
The type of mutation seen in the Factor V Leiden disorder is a _ mutation and what amino acid is switched?
Point mutation. CGA (Arg) is switched to CAA (Gln).
Virtually ALL Mendelian disorders are the result of mutation in _ that have large effects
Single genes
Explain what is meant by sickle cell trait.
The idea that in mendelian disorders, some autosomal mutations produce partial expression in the heterozygote and full expression in homozygote. In sickle cell anemia, homozygous for the mutant gene, all of the hemoglobin is of the abnormal HbS type, but individual who are heterozygous only a proportion of the hemoglobin is HbS and the rest are normal HbA and therefore red cell sickling occurs only under unusual circumstances like exposure to lowered oxygen tension.
What is pleotropism? Give an example of this type.
single mutant gene leading to many end effects. Example Sickle cell anemia, where the bad RBC causes other problems like splenic fibrosis, organ infarcts, bone changes
what is genetic heterogeneity? Give an example.
Mutations at several genetic loci producing the same trait. Example: Profound childhood deafness results from many different types of autosomal recessive mutations
What are the typical pattern of inheritance of mutations involving single genes?
Autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked
What are some characteristics of autosomal dominant disorders?
- manifested in heterozygous state (at least one parent is affected)
- both males and females are affected and both can transmit
- if affected marries unaffected, every child has 1/2 chance
- some cases, don’t have affected parents
- variations in penetrance and expressivity (e.g. neurofibromatosis type I)