A female carries one positive genetic marker for Huntington's disease. Her partner does not have any markers for the disease. For which reason is it so important for this family to identify persons with the genetic marker?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of Huntington's disease do not manifest until 30 to 50 years of age, which makes it important to identify persons with the genetic marker early on to allow for possible interventions or better planning for the future. The answer choices A and B are incorrect as the Huntington gene is dominant and not recessive, and not all offspring will have the disease as it depends on whether they inherit the gene or not. The expression of the disease is varied by individual, but this does not relate to the importance of identifying persons with the genetic marker.

A Female Carries One Positive Genetic Marker for Huntington's Disease