a. It affects individuals in every generation.
b. There is a 50% chance of transmission if one parent is affected.
c. It affects males more commonly than females.
d. Phenotypically normal parents do not transmit the disease to their child.
C. It affects males more commonly than females.
Rationale: Autosomal dominant inheritance affects both males and females equally because the mutated gene is present on an autosome (non-sex chromosome). The key features include vertical transmission in every generation, a 50% chance of passing it on if one parent is affected, and the absence of transmission from phenotypically normal parents.
a. Recurrence risk in siblings of 25%.
b. Increased incidence with consanguinity.
c. Greater incidence than that of autosomal dominant disorders.
d. Asymptomatic carrier state in parents.
C. Greater incidence than that of autosomal dominant disorders.
Rationale: Autosomal recessive disorders are generally less common than autosomal dominant disorders because both copies of the gene must be mutated to express the disease. Recurrence risk among siblings is 25%, consanguinity increases incidence, and carriers (heterozygous individuals) are asymptomatic.
a. X-linked recessive
b. X-linked dominant
c. Autosomal dominant
d. Autosomal recessive
B. X-linked dominant
Rationale: X-linked dominant inheritance leads to all daughters but no sons being affected if the father has the condition, while an affected mother has a 50% chance of passing it to either son or daughter.
a. Mitochondrial inheritance
b. Multifactorial inheritance
c. X-linked recessive inheritance
d. X-linked dominant inheritance
A. Mitochondrial inheritance
Rationale: Mitochondrial disorders are inherited exclusively from the mother and can affect both males and females. The manifestations vary due to heteroplasmy, meaning different cells may have different amounts of mutated mitochondria.
a. It can uncover/affect imprinting.
b. It can lead to some autosomal disorders.
c. It is associated with advanced maternal age.
d. It is associated with mosaicism for trisomy.
b. It can lead to some autosomal disorders.
a. Cleft lip and palate
b. Spina bifida
c. Hypercholesterolemia
d. Hairy ears
D. Hairy ears
Rationale: Polygenic disorders result from multiple genes and environmental influences, as seen in cleft lip/palate, spina bifida, and hypercholesterolemia. Hairy ears, however, follow Y-linked inheritance and are not multifactorial.
a. Malformation
b. Deformation
c. Disruption
d. Dysplasia
A. Malformation
Rationale: A malformation results from an intrinsic defect in embryonic development, as seen in omphalocele, where the midgut fails to return to the abdominal cavity properly. Deformations result from mechanical forces, disruptions from external insults, and dysplasia from abnormal cellular organization.
a. Chromosomal karyotype
b. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
c. Direct DNA analysis
d. Phenotypic study
A. Chromosomal karyotype
Rationale: Karyotyping is the most useful diagnostic test for detecting aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome number), such as trisomies (Down syndrome, Turner syndrome). FISH detects specific microdeletions, direct DNA analysis targets specific genes, and phenotypic studies are not diagnostic.
a. Ultrasound detection of nuchal
translucency
b. Amniocentesis
c. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
d. Combined screening (e.g. including nuchal translucency, PAPP-A, free β-hCG)
A. Ultrasound detection of nuchal translucency
Rationale: In the first trimester, nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound is a key non-invasive screening tool for detecting aneuploidy, particularly trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. It measures the fluid at the back of the fetal neck. When combined with maternal serum markers (PAPP-A and free β-hCG), detection rates improve.
a. Fragile X syndrome
b. Rett syndrome
c. Hemophilia A
d. Color blindness
C. Hemophilia A
Rationale: Hemophilia A is the most common X-linked recessive disorder, caused by mutations in the F8 gene leading to Factor VIII deficiency. It primarily affects males, while females are typically carriers.
a. Auditory testing
b. Visual assessment
c. 2D-Echocardiography
d. Thyroid function test
D. Thyroid function test
Rationale: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of congenital and acquired hypothyroidism, so periodic thyroid function tests (TSH, free T4) are recommended. While auditory testing, visual assessment, and 2D-Echo are also important in DS management, thyroid dysfunction is a frequent and treatable complication requiring routine screening.
a. Very friendly personality
b. Elfin facies
c. Normal IQ
d. Neonatal hypercalcemia
C. Normal IQ
Rationale: Williams syndrome is characterized by intellectual disability (IQ below average), an overly friendly personality, elfin facies (small upturned nose, wide mouth, full lips), and neonatal hypercalcemia due to elastin gene deletion on chromosome 7.
a. Change in a single DNA base
b. Change in an amino acid of a particular protein
c. Increase in chromosomal number
d. Loss or addition of one or more DNA bases
D. Loss or addition of one or more DNA bases
Rationale: A frameshift mutation occurs when one or more nucleotide bases are inserted or deleted, shifting the reading frame and altering the downstream amino acid sequence. This often leads to nonfunctional proteins.
a. Cerebral gigantism
b. Acromegaly
c. Fragile X syndrome
d. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
C. Fragile X syndrome
Rationale: Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. It presents with macrocephaly, large ears, a long face, and macroorchidism (enlarged testes in postpubertal males). It results from CGG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene.
a. Uniparental disomy
b. Mitochondrial inheritance
c. X-linked dominant inheritance
d. X-linked recessive inheritance
B. Mitochondrial inheritance
Rationale: Kearns-Sayre syndrome (progressive external ophthalmoplegia, cardiac conduction defects) and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (bilateral vision loss) are inherited only from the mother, characteristic of mitochondrial inheritance.
a. A way to prepare RNA
b. An enzyme assay to detect mutations
c. Scraping of buccal cells (for DNA)
d. A test to identify the chromosomal location of a specific gene or sequence
D. A test to identify the chromosomal location of a specific gene or sequence
Rationale: Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) uses fluorescent-labeled DNA probes to detect specific chromosomal abnormalities, such as deletions (e.g., 22q11 deletion in DiGeorge syndrome), duplications, and translocations.
a. Fragile X syndrome
b. Neurofibromatosis
c. Friedreich ataxia
d. Myotonic dystrophy
B. Neurofibromatosis
Rationale: Trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders include:
Fragile X syndrome (CGG)
Friedreich ataxia (GAA)
Myotonic dystrophy (CTG)
Neurofibromatosis is caused by mutations in the NF1 or NF2 gene and does not involve trinucleotide repeats.
a. Mutation to an autosomal dominant trait
b. Uniparental isodisomy transmission from the mother
c. Uniparental isodisomy transmission from the father
d. Imprinting of the missing recessive gene (less likely, as it typically doesn’t change the genotype)
B. Uniparental isodisomy transmission from the mother
Rationale: Uniparental isodisomy occurs when both copies of a chromosome come from the same parent, which can lead to an autosomal recessive disorder if one parent is not a carrier. Since the father tested negative for the carrier state, maternal uniparental disomy is the most likely explanation.
a. Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
b. Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
c. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
d. Trisomy 8
C. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
Rationale: Features of Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) include hypotonia, flat facies, epicanthal folds, a flattened occiput, and abdominal distension (often due to Hirschsprung disease or duodenal atresia). Pregnancy complications include polyhydramnios, breech presentation, and decreased fetal movements.
a. An X-linked structural protein
b. An autosomal recessive enzyme deficiency
c. An autosomal dominant enzyme deficiency
d. An autosomal dominant structural protein abnormality
B. An autosomal recessive enzyme deficiency
Rationale: Lethal genetic conditions in infancy are often autosomal recessive enzyme deficiencies, such as Tay-Sachs disease, Pompe disease, and certain urea cycle disorders. These conditions result in metabolic dysfunction, leading to severe symptoms and early death.
76. You are evaluating a neonate with multiple dysmorphic features. You find him small for gestational age, microcephalic, with a single nostril, postaxial polydactyly, and rocker-bottom feet. The most likely diagnosis is:
a. Down syndrome
b. Williams syndrome
c. Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
d. Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
D. Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Rationale: Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13) is associated with microcephaly, holoprosencephaly (single nostril, cyclopia), postaxial polydactyly, rocker-bottom feet, and severe midline defects. It is a severe condition with high neonatal mortality.
77. If there is a family history of genetic disorders, knowing the gender of an unborn child can be important because:
a. Male children are more likely to have autosomal defects show up in their phenotypes.
b. Female children are more likely to have autosomal defects show up in their phenotypes.
c. Male children are more likely to have X-linked traits show up in their phenotype.
d. (A) and (C) are correct.
D. (A) and (C) are correct.
Rationale:
Males are more likely to have autosomal defects show up in their phenotype due to the absence of a second X chromosome, which provides a backup copy of genes.
X-linked traits (both dominant and recessive) are more likely to be expressed in males, as they only have one X chromosome and lack a second copy to compensate for a mutation.
78. All of the following are characteristic features of Turner syndrome EXCEPT:
a. Mildly affected IQ
b. Low-set ears
c. Puffiness of the hands and feet (lymphedema)
d. Webbing of the neck
A. Mildly affected IQ (typically normal IQ)
Rationale: Turner syndrome (45,X) typically presents with low-set ears, webbed neck, and puffy hands/feet (lymphedema at birth). Cognitive function is usually normal, though some may have learning difficulties in spatial reasoning and mathematics.
79. What chromosomal disorder can present as bilateral cleft palate, cleft lip, and a ventricular septal defect?
a. Edwards syndrome
b. Turner syndrome
c. Down syndrome
d. Klinefelter syndrome
A. Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
Rationale: Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) is associated with cleft lip/palate, congenital heart defects (e.g., VSD), micrognathia, clenched hands, and rocker-bottom feet. It has a high neonatal mortality rate due to severe cardiac and respiratory complications.