What are Mendelian Disorders?
Mendelian disorders are genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation in one or sometimes multiple genes. These mutations lead to several disorders like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, etc. These disorders can range from mild to life-threatening and follow the principles of mendelian disorders. To understand this let’s first understand the principles of mendelian disorders.
Principle of Mendelian Disorders
Johann Gregor Mendel outlined these principles in 1822. He has investigated how pea plants inherit traits genetically. He came to the conclusion that genes are passed in pairs and independently (one from each parent) to children as dominant or recessive traits. Nonetheless, mendelian problems would result from any mutations that occur in these genes. Both the autosomes and the sex chromosomes are susceptible to mutation. Thus, pedigree analysis can tell whether a mutation affects the sex chromosomes or the autosomes.
Mendelian Disorder in Human
Mendelian disorders are a form of genetic disorder that is caused by the inheritance of single or multiple mutant genes from one or both parents. The function of the mutant gene determines how severe a Mendelian disorder is. The condition is typically severe if the gene controls a crucial function. Mendelian diseases include, for instance, Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis. These illnesses can be fatal and range in severity from mild to severe.