Question 1

Gene therapy involves

Accepted Answer

Gene therapy involves inserting normal, functional copies of genes into a patient's cells in order to correct or compensate for non-functional or defective genes. This can be accomplished through various methods, including viral vectors, gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, and non-viral vectors like lipid nanoparticles. The goal of gene therapy is to provide long-lasting or permanent relief or a cure for genetic disorders.

Question 2

The risks associated with amniocentesis include

Accepted Answer

The most significant risk associated with amniocentesis is miscarriage. This risk is estimated to be between 0.1% and 0.5% depending on factors such as the skill of the practitioner and the gestational age of the fetus. While other risks such as infection, bleeding, and injury to the fetus or mother are possible, they are rare. Cognitive deficits after birth and limb deformities in the fetus are not typically associated with amniocentesis, and chronic pain for the mother is not a common side effect.

Question 3

A women who had her uterus removed during a hysterectomy may be able to have some of her eggs extracted and frozen prior to the surgery. What technique would such a women be likely to request when she would like to have a child?

Accepted Answer

Since the woman no longer has a uterus, she cannot carry a pregnancy herself. In vitro fertilization (IVF) using a surrogate mother who carries the embryo to term would be the best choice for her to have a biological child. Option B (IVF using donated sperm) could also be a possibility, but it wouldn't allow her to have a biological child with her own eggs. Option C (amniocentesis) is a prenatal diagnostic test used to detect genetic abnormalities in a developing fetus, and option D (embryo cloning) is not currently a viable option for human reproduction.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true regarding diversity in the phenotypic expression of genetic disorders?

Accepted Answer

Environmental factors, such as nutrition, stress, and exposure to toxins, can have a significant impact on the phenotypic expression of genetic disorders. For example, a person with a genetic predisposition to heart disease may develop a milder form of the disorder if they lead a healthy lifestyle, while a person with the same genetic predisposition who leads an unhealthy lifestyle may develop a more severe form of the disorder. This is known as gene-environment interaction.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT an ethical concern regarding new reproductive technologies?

Accepted Answer

While genetic abnormalities can be a concern with some new reproductive technologies, it is not considered an ethical concern. The other options listed are ethical concerns commonly associated with new reproductive technologies.

Question 6

Your company would like to begin genetic testing when screening for potential employees in order to know a person's risk for developing diseases such as cancer and heart disease. A valid argument against the use of these tests would be that

Accepted Answer

The argument that there is no way to be certain that someone would develop a disorder despite possessing the genes associated with it is a valid one. Genetic testing only provides information about a person's risk for a disorder, but it cannot predict with certainty whether or not they will develop it in the future. This uncertainty raises ethical concerns about the use of genetic testing in employment screening, as it could lead to discrimination against individuals based on their perceived risk for developing a disorder.

Question 7

Chorionic villi sampling is a procedure that

Accepted Answer

Chorionic villi sampling is a procedure that can be administered at the ninth or tenth week of pregnancy, considerably earlier than amniocentesis.

Question 8

Your cousin has an immune system disorder and doctors inserted genes into her blood which would help her to produce enzymes that she previously lacked. These genes were probably inserted into her blood

Accepted Answer

Gene therapy is often performed using viruses as vectors to deliver the desired genes into the patient's cells. The virus can infect the target cells and insert the desired genes into the cell's DNA, allowing the patient's cells to produce the missing enzyme.

Question 9

Which of the following is true of the options available to a couple who are thinking about starting a family but who are concerned about passing onto their children genetic disorders which run in their family?

Accepted Answer

Preventive genetic counseling can allow the couple to be tested for defective genes before they conceive a child, thereby reducing the risk of passing on genetic disorders to their children. Adoption is not the only option and there may not be an appropriate child available for adoption. Ethical controversies have not made genetic counseling illegal. Early detection does not prevent genetic disorders, but it can help in managing the symptoms and treating the condition.

Question 10

A problem associated with the alphafetoprotein (AFP) assay is

Accepted Answer

The AFP assay has a higher rate of false positive results, meaning it can detect elevated levels of AFP that are not actually indicative of a problem. This can lead to unnecessary worry and follow-up testing that can be costly and invasive.

Question 11

The cause of mental retardation due to a narrowing of parts of the X chromosome is

Accepted Answer

Fragile X syndrome is caused by a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome called FMR1. This mutation causes the X chromosome to become constricted or "fragile" in certain areas, resulting in mental retardation and other symptoms. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, Klinefelter syndrome is caused by an extra X chromosome in males, and Turner syndrome is caused by a missing or partially missing X chromosome in females.

Question 12

Amniocentesis is a procedure that

Accepted Answer

Amniocentesis is a prenatal test that is typically performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. During the procedure, a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the developing fetus to test for genetic or developmental abnormalities. It is not done during delivery (A), typically in the ninth month of pregnancy (B), or earlier than other prenatal tests (D).

Question 13

have found

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that individuals with genes associated with antisocial behavior only develop problems when they are exposed to particular environmental stressors. This implies that genes alone do not determine behavior, but rather the interaction between genes and the environment. Option A and B are not mentioned in the statement, and option D is contradicted by the statement that genes are associated with these behaviors.

Question 14

Why would the ultrasound technique be associated with ethical problems?

Accepted Answer

In some cultures where male babies are preferred over female babies, ultrasound is used to determine the gender of the fetus. This has led to an increase in the rate of abortion of female fetuses, leading to ethical concerns about gender-based discrimination and selective abortion practices.

Question 15

One of the more difficult tasks of the Human Genome Project is

Accepted Answer

Determining interactions among multiple genes is a difficult task because genes do not work in isolation but interact with each other to determine traits and disease susceptibility. This complexity requires sophisticated computational and analytical tools to decipher the interactions among multiple genes in the genome. Identifying genes on the Y chromosome and chromosome 21, and diseases caused by single genes are also challenging tasks but are relatively easier than determining gene interactions.

Question 16

In which of the following situations would in vitro fertilization not be recommended?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which of the following situations would...

Question 17

Women who have frequent ultrasounds during pregnancy

Accepted Answer

Frequent ultrasounds during pregnancy can provide reassurance about the health and development of the fetus, potentially reducing anxiety as the pregnancy progresses.

Question 18

For which of the following diseases has a genetic marker been identified?

Accepted Answer

Huntington disease is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the HTT gene. A genetic marker has been identified for this disease, which can be used to diagnose and predict the probability of developing the disease. There are no known genetic markers for the other diseases listed.

Question 19

Prenatal cells can be used

Accepted Answer

Prenatal cells can be used to look for the presence of genetic markers of particular disorders. This can help in identifying the likelihood of the fetus developing a genetic disease and potentially provide options for intervention or preparation for the child's care.

Question 20

Which of the following conclusions can be correctly drawn from our current understanding of XYY and XXY men?

Accepted Answer

Current understanding suggests that there is no evidence to support the idea that XYY men are more aggressive or violent than XY men. Additionally, there is also no evidence to suggest that XYY or XXY men have any female characteristics, and their height is not consistently different from XY men. Thus, the correct conclusion is that XYY men are no more aggressive than XY men.

Quiz 2: The Process of Genetic Transmission