Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing in Canada, 5th Edition - Genetics Related

Review Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing in Canada, 5th Edition - Genetics related questions and content

When carrying out pre-symptomatic testing, which of the following diseases has a gene that is 100% penetrant?

  • A. Tay-Sachs disease
  • B. Fragile X syndrome
  • C. Cystic fibrosis
  • D. Huntington's disease
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In pre-symptomatic testing, an individual has genetic testing to determine whether she or he carries a genetic mutation for a genetic disorder. Typically, individuals electing this testing are members of a family that exhibits a genetic disorder. An example of this would be genetic testing for Huntington's disease, an adult-onset condition characterized by progressive neurological degeneration. The gene responsible for Huntington's disease is 100% penetrant, that is, everyone who inherits this mutation will exhibit the disease and, since there is no cure, will die of the disease.