LHON is a mitochondrial disease caused by weak hypomorphic mutations that affect the mitochondrial electron transport chain.Among the first symptoms of the disease is blindness.People with LHON are usually homoplasmic because retinas must be homoplasmic mutant for a person to have disease symptoms.Which is true about a female who is heteroplasmic for the mutation that causes LHON? (Select all that apply. )
A)She may have children who are blind due to LHON.
B)Some cells in her body are probably homoplasmic.
C)She is likely to develop the disease in other parts of her body.
D)All of her children will be homoplasmic for the wild-type mitochondria.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A heteroplasmic female can pass on the mutation to her children, potentially leading to blindness if they become homoplasmic for the mutation. Some of her cells may be homoplasmic for the mutation, but she is less likely to develop the disease herself. Not all her children will be homoplasmic for the wild-type mitochondria.

LHON Is a Mitochondrial Disease Caused by Weak Hypomorphic Mutations