Single Gene Disorders

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Inheritance Patterns - Gene Game Rules

  • Autosomal Dominant (AD): Vertical transmission. 50% offspring risk. Variable expressivity. New mutations.

  • Autosomal Recessive (AR): Horizontal. Skips generations. 25% risk (carrier parents). Consanguinity ↑.

  • X-linked Recessive (XLR): Males > Females. No male-to-male. Carrier ♀ → 50% sons affected.

  • X-linked Dominant (XLD): Affected ♂ → all daughters. Affected ♀ → 50% offspring.

  • Mitochondrial: Maternal. Affected ♀ → all offspring. Heteroplasmy.

  • Key Concepts:

    • Penetrance: Genotype shows phenotype (%).
    • Expressivity: Severity varies.
    • Pleiotropy: 1 gene, multiple effects.
    • Anticipation: Worsens/earlier over generations.
  • Pedigree: □ Male, ○ Female, Shaded=Affected.

Standardized Pedigree Symbols

⭐ For Autosomal Dominant, think vertical transmission (parent to child) and variable expressivity. Achondroplasia often arises from a new mutation (Advanced Paternal Age).

Autosomal Dominant - Top Dog Genes

  • Marfan Syndrome
    • Gene: FBN1 (Fibrillin-1)
    • Features: Arachnodactyly, ectopia lentis, aortic root dilatation/dissection. 📌 FAME: Fibrillin, Arachnodactyly, Mitral valve prolapse, Ectopia lentis.
    • Clues: Ghent criteria, family history.
  • Huntington Disease
    • Gene: HTT (Huntingtin); CAG repeats >39 for full penetrance.
    • Features: Chorea, cognitive decline, psychiatric disturbances.
    • Clues: Family history, genetic testing (CAG repeat count).
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)
    • Gene: NF1 (Neurofibromin)
    • Features: Café-au-lait macules (≥6), neurofibromas, Lisch nodules (iris hamartomas), optic glioma.
    • Clues: NIH diagnostic criteria.
  • Achondroplasia
    • Gene: FGFR3 (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3)
    • Features: Rhizomelic short stature, macrocephaly, frontal bossing, trident hand.
    • Clues: Clinical features, characteristic X-ray findings.

⭐ Huntington Disease is characterized by anticipation, where the disease manifests earlier and more severely in successive generations due to expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats.

Autosomal Recessive - Hidden Heirs

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
    • Gene: CFTR (ΔF508 common)
    • Defect: Defective chloride channel
    • Features: Recurrent lung infections, pancreatic insufficiency, meconium ileus, male infertility
    • Dx: Sweat chloride > 60 mEq/L, genetic tests, newborn screening
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
    • Gene: HBB
    • Defect: HbS (abnormal β-globin)
    • Features: Vaso-occlusive crises, hemolytic anemia, dactylitis, acute chest syndrome
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, newborn screen
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
    • Gene: PAH
    • Defect: ↓ Phenylalanine hydroxylase
    • Features: Intellectual disability, seizures, musty odor, eczema
    • Dx: Newborn screen (↑ Phenylalanine)
  • Tay-Sachs Disease
    • Gene: HEXA
    • Defect: ↓ Hexosaminidase A
    • Features: Progressive neurodegeneration, cherry-red macula, exaggerated startle
    • Dx: Enzyme assay, genetic testing
  • Thalassemias (α & β)
    • Gene: HBA1/2 (α), HBB (β)
    • Defect: ↓ Globin chain synthesis
    • Features: Microcytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, bone deformities (β-major)
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, CBC (↓MCV) Autosomal Recessive Inheritance Pedigree

⭐ The most common mutation in Cystic Fibrosis is ΔF508 in the CFTR gene, leading to defective chloride transport and characteristically high sweat chloride levels.## Autosomal Recessive - Hidden Heirs

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
    • Gene: CFTR (ΔF508 common)
    • Defect: Defective chloride channel
    • Features: Recurrent lung infections, pancreatic insufficiency, meconium ileus, male infertility
    • Dx: Sweat chloride > 60 mEq/L, genetic tests, newborn screening
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
    • Gene: HBB
    • Defect: HbS (abnormal β-globin)
    • Features: Vaso-occlusive crises, hemolytic anemia, dactylitis, acute chest syndrome
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, newborn screen
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
    • Gene: PAH
    • Defect: ↓ Phenylalanine hydroxylase
    • Features: Intellectual disability, seizures, musty odor, eczema
    • Dx: Newborn screen (↑ Phenylalanine)
  • Tay-Sachs Disease
    • Gene: HEXA
    • Defect: ↓ Hexosaminidase A
    • Features: Progressive neurodegeneration, cherry-red macula, exaggerated startle
    • Dx: Enzyme assay, genetic testing
  • Thalassemias (α & β)
    • Gene: HBA1/2 (α), HBB (β)
    • Defect: ↓ Globin chain synthesis
    • Features: Microcytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, bone deformities (β-major)
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, CBC (↓MCV) (image)[08bd91ea-483f-48a3-94eb-ea85ca8684f6]

⭐ The most common mutation in Cystic Fibrosis is ΔF508 in the CFTR gene, leading to defective chloride transport and characteristically high sweat chloride levels.## Autosomal Recessive - Hidden Heirs

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
    • Gene: CFTR (ΔF508 common)
    • Defect: Defective chloride channel
    • Features: Recurrent lung infections, pancreatic insufficiency, meconium ileus, male infertility
    • Dx: Sweat chloride > 60 mEq/L, genetic tests, newborn screening
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
    • Gene: HBB
    • Defect: HbS (abnormal β-globin)
    • Features: Vaso-occlusive crises, hemolytic anemia, dactylitis, acute chest syndrome
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, newborn screen
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
    • Gene: PAH
    • Defect: ↓ Phenylalanine hydroxylase
    • Features: Intellectual disability, seizures, musty odor, eczema
    • Dx: Newborn screen (↑ Phenylalanine)
  • Tay-Sachs Disease
    • Gene: HEXA
    • Defect: ↓ Hexosaminidase A
    • Features: Progressive neurodegeneration, cherry-red macula, exaggerated startle
    • Dx: Enzyme assay, genetic testing
  • Thalassemias (α & β)
    • Gene: HBA1/2 (α), HBB (β)
    • Defect: ↓ Globin chain synthesis
    • Features: Microcytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, bone deformities (β-major)
    • Dx: Hb electrophoresis, CBC (↓MCV) (image)[08bd91ea-483f-48a3-94eb-ea85ca8684f6]

⭐ The most common mutation in Cystic Fibrosis is ΔF508 in the CFTR gene, leading to defective chloride transport and characteristically high sweat chloride levels.

X-Linked & Mitochondrial - Special Ops Genes

  • X-Linked Recessive (XLR): No male-to-male transmission.

    • Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DMD/BMD): DMD gene. Muscle weakness, Gower's sign, calf pseudohypertrophy. Becker milder. Gower's sign and calf pseudohypertrophy in Duchenne MD
    • Hemophilia A/B: Factor VIII/IX deficiency. Bleeding, hemarthrosis, ↑aPTT.
    • G6PD Deficiency: G6PD gene. Hemolytic anemia (triggers: drugs, fava), Heinz bodies. 📌 Heinz = G6PD.
  • X-Linked Dominant (XLD): Affected father → all daughters affected, no sons.

    • Fragile X Syndrome: FMR1 (CGG >200). ID, long face, macroorchidism. Anticipation.
    • Rett Syndrome: MECP2. Girls: neuro-regression, hand-wringing (lethal males).
  • Mitochondrial: Maternal inheritance (mother to ALL offspring). Variable expressivity.

    • LHON: Bilateral vision loss.
    • MELAS: Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-like episodes.

⭐ Affected XLR males transmit to all daughters (carriers), never sons. Gower's sign: classic in DMD.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Autosomal Dominant: Vertical transmission, 50% offspring risk; Marfan syndrome, Huntington disease.
  • Autosomal Recessive: Horizontal transmission (sibs), 25% offspring risk; consanguinity key; Cystic Fibrosis.
  • X-linked Recessive: Affects males mainly, carrier females; no male-to-male transmission; Duchenne MD.
  • X-linked Dominant: Affected fathers to all daughters, no sons; Rett syndrome.
  • Mitochondrial Inheritance: Maternal transmission to all offspring; heteroplasmy (variable severity).
  • Concepts: Penetrance, variable expressivity, pleiotropy, anticipation (Huntington's).
  • Dynamic mutations: Expanding trinucleotide repeats cause Fragile X, Myotonic Dystrophy.

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