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Single Gene Disorder

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When a certain gene is known to cause a disease, it is referred as a single gene disorder or a Mendelian disorder. These disorders involve mutations in the DNA sequences of single genes. As a result, the protein the gene codes for is either altered or missing (Landsverk, 2013). Few examples of single gene disorders includes cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Fragile X syndrome, muscular dystrophy, or Huntington disease. As a rule, single gene disorders are not very common. For example, only one in 2,500 people are born with cystic fibrosis. There are a number of inheritance patterns of single gene disorders that are predictable when you know what they are. There are three main transmission patterns: autosomal-dominant, autosomal-recessive, and X-linked or sex-linked recessive (Mahdieh, 2013). …show more content…

LSDs result from incompletely digested macromolecules due to loss of enzyme function (Filocamo, 2013). These enzymes normally break down items for reuse in the cells. If the enzymes are missing or don't work properly, then the items can build up and become toxic. This happens in an area of the cell called lysosomes. To date, 51 genetically determined lysosomal storage diseases have been described. Since there can be different mutations of the same gene, they result in different clinical manifestations and are classified as infantile and adult types. The acquired disorders are the result of inhibition of α-mannosidase II by ingestion of plant materials of Astragalus lentginous, Oxiftropis serica, Swainsona canescens, and Ipomoea carena as well as treatment with certain drugs, such as amphophilic cationic drugs, amiodarone and chloroquine, which induce phospholipidosis and MPS. There are 9 different inherited and 2 acquired mechanisms that are known to cause lysosomal storage

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