LE4 Flashcards
What are characteristics of autosomal dominant inheritance, EXCEPT:
A. Affects individuals in every generation
B. There is a 50% chance of inheritance
C. It affects males more commonly than females
D. Phenotypically normal parents do not transmit the disease
C. It affects males more commonly than females
Rationale: Autosomal dominant disorders affect males and females equally because the inheritance is not sex-linked. The condition occurs in every generation, and there is typically a 50% chance of inheritance if one parent has the disorder.
A young woman recently had a miscarriage. What advice would you give regarding the possibility of chromosomal anomalies?
A. Approximately 10%
B. Approximately 25%
C. Approximately 50%
D. Approximately 75%
C. Approximately 50%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: About 50% of first-trimester miscarriages are caused by chromosomal anomalies, most commonly due to trisomies. This is a well-established figure in obstetric and genetic studies.
A disease affecting all the daughters but none of the sons is likely due to:
A. X-linked recessive inheritance
B. Autosomal recessive inheritance
C. X-linked dominant inheritance
D. Mitochondrial inheritance
C. X-linked dominant inheritance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In X-linked dominant inheritance, affected fathers pass the trait to all daughters but no sons because males contribute a Y chromosome to their sons. This inheritance pattern is distinct and consistent.
A disease passed only through the mother is due to:
A. X-linked inheritance
B. Autosomal dominant inheritance
C. Autosomal recessive inheritance
D. Mitochondrial inheritance
D. Mitochondrial inheritance
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Mitochondrial DNA is inherited exclusively from the mother because the mitochondria in the sperm do not contribute to the zygote. Thus, mitochondrial disorders are always maternally inherited.
Uniparental disomy occurs when both copies of one chromosome come from the same parent. Which of the following statements about uniparental disomy is INACCURATE?
A. Covers/uncovers imprinting
B. Can lead to autosomal dominant disorders
C. Is associated with advanced maternal age
D. Is associated with mosaicism for trisomy
B. Can lead to autosomal dominant disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: UPD occurs when both copies of a chromosome come from the same parent, which can cause recessive disorders or imprinting disorders but not autosomal dominant disorders. Autosomal dominant diseases require a single defective copy regardless of parental origin.
A 2-month-old baby boy presents with recurrent chest infections, cleft palate, right-sided aortic arch, and absent thymic shadow on CXR. He could be diagnosed with one of the following syndromes, EXCEPT:
A. Velocardiofacial syndrome
B. Conotruncal anomaly face syndrome
C. DiGeorge syndrome
D. Pierre Robin syndrome
D. Pierre Robin syndrome
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The symptoms—recurrent infections, cleft palate, absent thymic shadow, and right-sided aortic arch—are characteristic of DiGeorge syndrome (22q11 deletion). Pierre Robin syndrome includes cleft palate but lacks the immunological and cardiovascular findings seen here.
A mentally retarded 15-year-old boy is found to have macro-orchidism and large prominent ears. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Cerebral gigantism
B. Acromegaly
C. Fragile X syndrome
D. Trisomy 21
C. Fragile X syndrome
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. Classic features include macro-orchidism, large prominent ears, and intellectual impairment, particularly in males.
A small-for-gestational-age infant is born to a 36-year-old woman. The infant is noted at birth to have low-set and malformed ears, microcephaly, rocker-bottom feet, inguinal hernias, cleft lip and palate, and micrognathia. The chromosome analysis is likely to reveal which of the following:
A. Turner syndrome
B. Edward syndrome
C. Patau syndrome
D. Down syndrome
B. Edward syndrome
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Edward syndrome (Trisomy 18) presents with features such as microcephaly, rocker-bottom feet, low-set ears, cleft lip/palate, and micrognathia. These findings match the description given.
A 5-year-old boy presents with fever, headache, repeated vomiting, and nuchal rigidity. Kernig and Brudzinski signs are positive. The MOST common organism causing this condition is:
A. Neisseria meningitidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
D. Haemophilus influenzae
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children beyond the neonatal period. It is responsible for severe infections, particularly in young children.
A 9-year-old child presents with a history of a fall from height, otorrhea, basilar skull fracture, fever, headache, repeated vomiting, and nuchal rigidity. The most common organism causing this condition is:
A. Neisseria meningitidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
D. Haemophilus influenzae
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In cases of basilar skull fractures with otorrhea, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of meningitis. Pneumococcus commonly gains access to the meninges through fractures at the skull base.
A fair-haired, mentally retarded 4-year-old presents with frequent laughter, hand flapping, fascination with water, and scoliosis. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Down syndrome
B. Angelman syndrome
C. Rett syndrome
D. Fragile X syndrome
B. Angelman syndrome
Rationale: Angelman syndrome is characterized by:
Frequent laughter and smiling
Hand-flapping movements
Hyperactivity
Scoliosis
Fascination with water
Developmental delay and severe intellectual disability
A child with a dysmorphic face, flat facial features, almond-shaped eyes, small ears, and a single palmar crease is most likely to have:
A. Turner syndrome
B. Trisomy 13
C. Trisomy 21
D. Noonan syndrome
C. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
Rationale:
Classic features of Down syndrome include:
Flat facial profile
Almond-shaped eyes
Single transverse palmar crease
Short neck and small ears
An institutionalized delinquent appears normal at first glance but has large teeth, a long face, long fingers, and trouble with fine motor skills. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Fragile X syndrome
B. Klinefelter syndrome
C. XYY syndrome
D. Angelman syndrome
A. Fragile X syndrome
Explanation:
• Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and is associated with specific physical and behavioral features.
• Key characteristics include:
• Large teeth
• Long face
• Long fingers (arachnodactyly)
• Difficulties with fine motor skills
• Behavioral issues, including hyperactivity, social anxiety, and sometimes aggressive tendencies.
A very tall, thin boy with delayed speech development, poor school performance, long limbs, a decreased limb ratio, and small testes is most likely to have:
A. Marfan syndrome
B. Turner syndrome
C. Klinefelter syndrome
D. Noonan syndrome
C. Klinefelter syndrome
Rationale: Klinefelter syndrome (47, XXY) presents with:
Tall stature
Long limbs
Small testes and hypogonadism
Delayed language and learning disabilities
A 7-year-old child presents with persistent mucopurulent rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, headache, and nighttime cough after a flu-like illness. Facial swelling and tenderness are noted. The major predisposing factor for this condition is:
A. Allergic rhinitis
B. Common cold
C. Asthma
D. Bacterial infection
B. Common cold
Rationale:
A viral upper respiratory infection (common cold) predisposes to bacterial sinusitis, especially after flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms include persistent rhinorrhea, facial pain, and swelling.
A 7-year-old boy presents with earache and aural discharge in the left ear after swimming. He is afebrile, but tenderness is noted on pinna movement. The MOST likely cause of this condition is:
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Haemophilus influenzae
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rationale:
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially after water exposure.
Key features include ear discharge, tenderness on pinna manipulation, and afebrile status.
A patient with primary amenorrhea, short stature, significant hypertension, and webbed neck is most likely to have:
A. Turner syndrome
B. Klinefelter syndrome
C. Noonan syndrome
D. Trisomy 18
A. Turner syndrome
Rationale: Turner syndrome (45, X) presents with:
Primary amenorrhea
Short stature
Webbed neck
Hypertension and coarctation of the aorta
A hyperactive child with a long face, large thighs, and very large testes is most likely diagnosed with:
A. Fragile X syndrome
B. Marfan syndrome
C. XYY syndrome
D. Angelman syndrome
A. Fragile X syndrome
Rationale: Fragile X syndrome presents with:
Hyperactivity and developmental delay
Long face and prominent ears
Macro-orchidism (enlarged testes)
A young woman recently had a miscarriage. What part of your advice includes the possibility of chromosomal anomalies?
A. Approximately 10%
B. Approximately 25%
C. Approximately 50%
D. Approximately 75%
C. Approximately 50%
Rationale: Chromosomal abnormalities account for approximately 50% of first-trimester miscarriages, particularly aneuploidies like trisomies.
The following serum marker is increased in neural tube defects:
A. Beta-hCG
B. Alpha-fetoprotein
C. Lactate dehydrogenase
D. Creatinine kinase
B. Alpha-fetoprotein
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is elevated in maternal serum and amniotic fluid in cases of neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.
It is a standard screening marker during pregnancy.
Gene therapy involves the transfer of DNA to correct diseases. All of the following are gene therapy candidates, EXCEPT:
A. Severe combined immunodeficiency
B. Sickle cell anemia
C. Cystic fibrosis
D. Hemophilia
A. Severe combined immunodeficiency
Clarification: SCID, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia are all valid candidates for gene therapy. SCID specifically is one of the most successful examples of gene therapy. Further review required for what the intended “exception” might be.
What is FISH?
A. A genetic test for identifying chromosomal abnormalities
B. A procedure for gene editing
C. A method for diagnosing enzyme deficiencies
D. A technique for sequencing whole genomes
A. A genetic test for identifying chromosomal abnormalities
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
FISH is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities like deletions, duplications, and rearrangements using fluorescent probes.
It is highly specific and commonly used in clinical genetics.
Trinucleotide repeats are implicated in the etiology of all the following genetic disorders, EXCEPT:
A. Huntington disease
B. Fragile X syndrome
C. Neurofibromatosis
D. Myotonic dystrophy
C. Neurofibromatosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Neurofibromatosis is caused by mutations in the NF1 or NF2 genes and is NOT related to trinucleotide repeat expansions.
Disorders like Huntington disease, Fragile X syndrome, and myotonic dystrophy are caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions.
A 10-month-old infant diagnosed with Trisomy 18 presents with a prominent occiput, clenched fists, and “rocker bottom feet”. What are the two complications that most commonly cause death in these children?
A. Sepsis and meningitis
B. Heart failure and pneumonia
C. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and CNS infection
D. Disseminated tuberculosis and malnutrition
B. Heart failure and pneumonia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) is associated with severe congenital heart defects and respiratory issues.
Heart failure and pneumonia are the leading causes of death.