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Question 47 of 68

Q.Write about any four genetic diseases.

Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2016Subjective· 10mImportance★★★★★
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Genetic diseases can arise from a single-gene point mutation, an enzyme deficiency, a quantitative defect in protein synthesis, or a whole-chromosome abnormality - illustrated here by sickle-cell anaemia, phenylketonuria, thalassemia and Down's syndrome.

  1. Sickle-cell anaemia
    • Inheritance: autosomal recessive; the disease appears only in individuals homozygous for the mutant allele (HbS HbS), while heterozygotes (HbA HbS) are carriers with sickle-cell trait.
    • Molecular basis: a point mutation (GAG to GTG) in the beta-globin gene on chromosome 11 substitutes valine for glutamic acid at the 6th position of the beta-globin chain, producing abnormal haemoglobin HbS.
    • Mechanism: under low-oxygen conditions, HbS polymerises into rigid fibres that distort red blood cells into a characteristic sickle shape.
    • Effects: sickled cells are fragile (causing haemolytic anaemia) and can block small blood vessels, leading to painful vaso-occlusive crises and organ damage; carriers show some resistance to malaria.
  2. Phenylketonuria (PKU)
    • Inheritance: autosomal recessive metabolic disorder.
    • Cause: deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which normally converts the amino acid phenylalanine into tyrosine.
    • Effects: phenylalanine and its abnormal metabolites accumulate in the blood and body tissues; if untreated in infancy, this causes severe intellectual disability.
    • Management: detected by newborn screening and managed by a strict phenylalanine-restricted diet from early infancy, which allows normal development.
  3. Thalassemia
    • Inheritance: autosomal recessive.
    • Cause: unlike sickle-cell anaemia's qualitative defect, thalassemia is a quantitative disorder - reduced or absent synthesis of either the alpha-globin or beta-globin chain of haemoglobin, classified as alpha- or beta-thalassemia accordingly.
    • Effects: the imbalance of globin chains leads to defective haemoglobin formation and destruction of red blood cells, causing chronic haemolytic anaemia; the severe homozygous form (thalassemia major) requires regular blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy.
  4. Down's syndrome …

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