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Essay On Achondroplasia

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Achondroplasia is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene which is located on the fourth chromosome. It is an autosomal gene that is dominant that can be passed down by the parents. Most parents of people who suffer from achondroplasia have parents without the disorder, but new mutations constantly arise with the FGFR3 gene. Normally cartilage converts to bone during human development, but people who suffer from achondroplasia are unable to do so with most cartilage in the body. This is mostly due to the FGFR3 gene producing too many proteins that interfere with human development. Since the proteins cause issues with bone and brain development its symptoms often relate back to the mutations. Achondroplasia is easy to spot as those who suffer from it often have shorter limbs and an enlarged head. Most symptoms involve misshapen limbs or disproportionate body parts that are easy to spot at an early age. Patients also suffer from modern pain due to the lack of proper development. Often a test isn’t needed to confirm if someone has dwarfism, but it is important to know which kind which is why tests are taken to determine if one has achondroplasia. …show more content…

The main way I would consider to cure this disorder would be to start a test to confirm what mutation has occurred in the FGFR3 gene so development for a cure can start. Is it possible to regulate the development of protein growth in the body that will help stop achondroplasia from occurring? This would require a change to each cell in the human body if the gene were to be completely neutralized. Another possible way to do this would be to get rid off groups of the overmade proteins so that the necessary amount could remain while the excess ones were removed. Achondroplasia remains a mystery of how to cure as the only way to truly end it is to stop human development all

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