A 20-year-old male seeking help from his ophthalmologist presents with deteriorating vision in both eyes, especially his central vision. The patient also evidences cardiac dysrythmia and an apparent demyelination of the optic nerve. The ophthalmologist suspects Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, a condition caused by a point mutation that is not X-linked but is transmitted only by females. This condition is due to problems with which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is due to problems with the mitochondria, specifically a point mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy in cells, and mutations in mitochondrial DNA can affect the function of cells that require a lot of energy, such as the optic nerve and cardiac muscle.

A 20-Year-Old Male Seeking Help from His Ophthalmologist Presents with Deteriorating