Imagine that you know two sisters-Rose and Sam-both of whom smoke. Rose has a mutation in the gene for alpha-1 antitrypsin, whereas Sam does not. Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding these sisters?
A)Because both sisters smoke, Rose and Sam will certainly develop emphysema; however, given her mutation, Rose will likely develop a much more serious form of the disease.
B)Given that a mutation in alpha-1 antitrypsin serves a "protective" function against the development of emphysema, Rose will not develop this disease but Sam will.
C)It is possible that neither Rose nor Sam will develop emphysema; however, the fact that both sisters smoke-added to the mutation that Rose carries-increases their chances of developing this disease.
D)Rose is predisposed to develop emphysema, but if Sam does, this will be a random occurrence-environmental factors or lifestyle choices (such as smoking)have not been associated with emphysema.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Smoking is a risk factor for emphysema, but having a mutation in the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene can increase the chances of developing the disease. It is possible that neither Rose nor Sam will develop emphysema, but their smoking habits combined with Rose's mutation increases their risk of developing the disease. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Imagine That You Know Two Sisters-Rose and Sam-Both of Whom