Genetic Disorders

1. Biology B/ Pedigrees and Genetic Engineering Genetic Disorders

2. Huntington’s Disease • Genetic disorder that affects a central portion of the brain by causing the death of brain cells. • Early symptoms include mood swings, memory loss, depression and twitching. • Late symptoms include involuntary spasms and difficulty performing the most basic tasks such as eating, walking and talking.

3. Huntington’s Disease • Huntington’s Disease is the result of a defect on the 4th chromosome • This disease is autosomal dominant, which means that having the disease is the dominant trait and the disease shows complete dominance.

4. TaySach’s Disease • Tay Sach’s Disease results from fatty substances that build up in the body and break down brain and nerve cells. • Symptoms do not appear for the first few months of life, but children with Tay Sach’s generally die by age 4 or 5. • Symptoms include: losing muscle strength, not smiling or crawling, seizures, paralysis, deafness and blindness.

5. TaySach’s Disease • Tay Sach’s disease is the result of an enzyme that does not function properly. • Tay Sach’s is a sex-linked recessive disorder, which means that having the disorder is a recessive trait and the allele is located on the X chromosome.

6. Cystic Fibrosis • Genetic disorder that results in a very sticky mucus coating the lungs, making them more likely to become infected.

7. Cystic Fibrosis • Cystic Fibrosis is a autosomal recessive disorder, which means that having the disorder is a recessive trait and the allele is found on a normal (non-sex) chromosome.

8. Albinism • Genetic disorder causing a failure to produce melanin, a pigment that protects the skin and eyes. • This means the person lacks pigment in skin, hair and eyes.

9. Albinism • This disorder is autosomal recessive, which means having the disorder is a recessive trait and the allele is found on a normal (non-sex) chromosome.