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The gene that causes Tay-Sachs disease normally provides instructions for making an enzyme called hexosaminidase A. This enzyme helps break down a fatty substance called GM2 ganglioside. Mutations in this gene lead to a deficiency in hexosaminidase A, causing the buildup of GM2 ganglioside in cells, which leads to the symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease.

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Can you get tay sachs disease as an adult?

No, Tay-Sachs disease typically presents in infancy or early childhood. It is a rare genetic disorder that results in the destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Adults who carry the gene mutation for Tay-Sachs disease do not develop symptoms of the disease themselves, but may pass the gene on to their children.


Why is tay sachs is considered recessive level and codominant at the molecular level?

The part of tay sachs that kills you is recessive. Some proteins are still expressed even if you are a heterzygous carrier of tay sachs (less than if you are homozygous recessive but more than homozygous dominant) making the molecular view of tay sachs codominant.


What are other names for tay sachs disease?

Tay-Sachs disease is abbreviated to TSD and is also known as GM2 gangliosidosis or Hexosaminidase A deficiency.


What chromosome does tay-sachs disease affect?

Tay-Sachs disease is caused by mutations in the HEXA gene located on chromosome 15. These mutations result in the absence or deficiency of the enzyme hexosaminidase A, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances in the brain and nervous system.


A person can be tested for the allele that causes Tay-Sachs disease because the what of that allele is different from that of the normal allele?

The DNA sequence of the allele that causes Tay-Sachs disease is different from that of the normal allele. This difference in the DNA sequence allows for specific genetic tests to be conducted to identify the presence of the Tay-Sachs disease allele in individuals.

Related Questions

Is there any way to prevent tay sachs?

There are a couple ways Tay-Sachs can be prevented; 1) determine if both you and your mate carry the Tay-Sachs gene 2) perform a prenatal diagnosis to determine if the fetus carries the Tay-Sachs gene Hope this helped!


If someone is a heterozygous carrier of the tay-sachs gene what is their genotype?

if someone is a Heterozygous carrier of Tay-Sachs they would have to be Tt. Because TT is Homozygous.


What is the main cause of tay sachs disease?

A mutation of the HEX A gene of chromosome 15 causes Tay-Sachs disease. As a result, the protein hexosaminidase A is not formed properly and GM2 ganglioside, the lipid normally broken down by hexosaminidase A, accumulates to toxic levels (especially in the brain).


Can tay-sachs disease be detected by karyotyping?

Tay-Sach's has a defective gene on chromosme 15


How is Tay Sachs Disease inherited?

A mutation of the HEX A gene of chromosome 15 causes Tay-Sachs disease. As a result, the protein hexosaminidase A is not formed properly and GM2 ganglioside, the lipid normally broken down by hexosaminidase A, accumulates to toxic levels (especially in the brain).


How often does Tay-Sachs disease occur?

The defective gene that causes Tay-Sachs disease is found in roughly 1 in 250 people in the general population.


What are causes of tay Sachs?

Tay-Sachs is caused by a defective gene. Genes are located on chromosomes, and serve to direct specific development/processes within the body. The genetic defect in Tay-Sachs disease results in the lack of an enzyme called hexosaminidase A.


What are diseases that can be caused by the lack of a functional gene for an enzyme?

Tay-Sachs disease


Is tay sachs disease a disease of codominance?

Yes Tay Sachs disease is a disease of codominance. If you have one defective form of the Hex-A gene, you will be able to function normally and will not have the disease. This is because you still create enough of the enzyme to function normally but it is only being produced at 50% the rate of someone with two normal Hex-A genes.


When does tay-sachs disease occur?

Symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease were discovered by Warren Tay in 1881 and Bernard Sachs wrote about it in general in 1887. (this is a disease which affects the brain and eventually kills the person who has it.) Infants that have Tay-Sachs normally die by age 5. They start to lose their functions by the age of 8 months!! Discovered in 1881.


Is tay-sachs disease lethal?

Tay-Sachs in infants is extremely lethal. Problems with motor function and sensory organs begin at around 7 months or so. Seizures occur around the age of 2. Death occurs when the infant reachs 5 years old. Tay-Sachs in adults, however, is not necessarily lethal. Many of the disorders remain the same as they do in infants but the disease does not normally cause death in adults.


Does Tay-Sachs disease have single cells or multiple alleles?

Multiple mutations are responsible for Tay Sachs Disease. For example, Tay Sachs in the french Canadian population may be due to a different mutation then people of eastern European Jewish descent with Tay Sachs. any mutation that causes the absence of the enzyme Hexosamindase (Hex-A) is a mutation that can cause a Tay Sachs genotype/phenotype within an individual