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Tay-Sachs Disease: Hexosaminidase-A Genetic Analysis

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In order for Tay-Sachs disease to be relevant the Hexosaminidase-A (Hex-A) enzyme is either defective or absent. This enzyme is needed to survive because it helps breakdown specific substances such as fats. The massive build-up of lipids called gangliosides affect the central nervous system, which eventually starts to destroy the cell and damages the tissue around it. Most people working in the medical field would define that occurrence as an “abnormal storage”. In order for the child to inherit this disease, both parents must be carriers. However, statistically it is stated there is only a 25 percent chance of the child to be affected if both parents are carriers. The child also has a 50 percent chance of becoming a carrier

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