Inherited Genetic Disorders | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

Summary

This video explores genetic disorders, focusing on polydactyly and cystic fibrosis. Polydactyly, characterized by extra fingers or toes, is caused by a dominant allele, allowing it to be inherited from just one parent. In contrast, cystic fibrosis requires two recessive alleles, with parents often unaware they are carriers until affected children are born. The video discusses embryo screening as a preventive measure against genetic disorders, highlighting ethical, social, and economic concerns associated with in vitro fertilization. Overall, it provides insight into the complexities of genetic inheritance and family planning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Polydactyly is a genetic condition that results in extra fingers or toes and is inherited through a dominant allele.
• 😀 Individuals with one copy of the dominant allele (P) will exhibit polydactyly, while those with two recessive alleles (pp) will not.
• 😀 Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that requires two copies of a recessive allele (ff) to manifest.
• 😀 Parents can be carriers of cystic fibrosis without showing symptoms, which makes genetic testing important for family planning.
• 😀 Genetic diagrams can illustrate how traits like polydactyly and cystic fibrosis are inherited across generations.
• 😀 Embryo screening is a process used to identify genetic disorders in embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• 😀 During embryo screening, a single cell is removed from a developing embryo to test for genetic disorders before implantation.
• 😀 Ethical issues surrounding embryo screening include the destruction of unused embryos and concerns about potential lives.
• 😀 IVF, while beneficial, can be emotionally and financially challenging for parents, as it is not always successful.
• 😀 Understanding genetic disorders helps families make informed decisions regarding health and reproduction.

Q & A

What is polydactyly?

Polydactyly is a genetic condition that results in an individual having extra fingers or toes.

How is polydactyly inherited?

Polydactyly is inherited through a dominant allele. A person only needs one copy of this allele to express the condition.

What are alleles?

Alleles are different forms of a gene that can be dominant or recessive. Individuals inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent.

What distinguishes cystic fibrosis from polydactyly in terms of inheritance?

Cystic fibrosis is caused by inheriting two recessive alleles, while polydactyly is caused by a single dominant allele.

What does it mean to be a carrier of a genetic disorder?

Being a carrier means that an individual has one recessive allele for a disorder but does not express the condition themselves, as seen in the case of cystic fibrosis.

What is embryo screening?

Embryo screening is a process used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to test embryos for genetic disorders before they are implanted in the uterus.

What ethical issues are associated with embryo screening?

Ethical issues include the destruction of unused embryos, concerns about potential lives lost, and the emotional impact of IVF failures on families.

What role do dominant and recessive alleles play in genetic disorders?

Dominant alleles require only one copy to express a disorder, while recessive alleles require two copies, affecting how traits and conditions are inherited.

Why might parents not know they are carriers of cystic fibrosis?

Many carriers do not exhibit symptoms of cystic fibrosis, so they may remain unaware of their carrier status until they have a child with the disorder.

What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is a medical procedure where eggs and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory, allowing for the potential creation of embryos that can be implanted into the uterus.