Biology 2 - Genetic Disorders

Genetic Disorders

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder of the cell membranes. It results in the body producing a lot of thick, sticky mucus in the air passages and in the pancreas. 

• The allele which causes cystic fibrosis is a recessive allele, carried by 1 in 25 people
• Because its recessive, people with only one copy of the allele won't have the dosorder - they're known as carriers.
• For a child to have the disorder, both parents must be either carriers or sufferers.

Polydactyly

Polydactyly is a genetic disorder where a baby's born with extra fingers or toes. It doesn't usually cause any other problems so it isn't 'life-threatening'.

• The disorder is caused by a dominant allele, and so can be inherrited if just one parent carries the defective allele.
• The parent that has the defective allele will…