How do you get bubble boy syndrome?

Answer 1

The bubble boy syndrome or Severe Combine Immune Deficiency (SCID), is an autosomal recessive disorder. That means you'll get it if you have two copies of a defective gene. Usually that means, both parent have 1 copy of that gene, but the parents don't suffer from SCID because its a recessive gene disorder, you need 2 copies to have SCID. The mutation in the gene means that a particular enzyme (Adenosine Deaminase- ADA) is not produced. Without ADA, adnosine within the T and B cells (which are respondisble for our immune system) cannot be digested. In the presence of undigested adenosine, the immune cells cannot survive and die. Therefore, people who suffer from the bubble boy syndrome have no immunity as their body cannot produce healthy immune cells.