Biology

Human Genetics and Disorders

882 Questions

Human Genetics and Disorders covers the inheritance patterns, genetic mutations, and molecular basis of hereditary diseases. Topics include sex-linked traits, cancer genetics, and metabolic disorders. This section tests knowledge critical for biology exams and general science papers.

Genetic mutationsInherited disordersCancer geneticsGenetic testingMendelian inheritance

Human Genetics and Disorders Questions

Multiple choice

Match the following: Cause of disease|Type of disease| |a. Defective genes passed on from parents to offsprings.|1. Social disease| |b. Organs and tissues wearing away and not working so well with the age.|2. Inherited disease| |c. Social interaction with family friends and strangers. |3. Degenerative disease|

  1. a - 2, b - 3, c - 1

  2. a - 2, b - 1, c - 3

  3. a - 1, b - 2, c - 3

  4. a - 3, b - 2, c - 1

  5. a - 1, b - 3, c - 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. Defective genes passed on from parents to offsprings cause inherited diseases. Organs and tissues wearing away and not working so well with age cause degenerative diseases. Social interaction with family, friends and strangers causes social diseases.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Colour blindness is mainly an inherited disorder.
  2. Haemophilia, Thalassemia and Sickle cell anemia disorders are genetically transmitted from mother's blood to the fetus.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Colour blindness is an inherited disorder, which is mainly transferred from father to son. Statement 2 is also correct. The three given disorders are caused due to defective haemoglobin, which are transferred from mother to the fetus through blood.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are XY-linked hereditary disorders?

  1. Colour blindness
  2. Hypertrichosis
  3. Haemophilia
  4. Retinitis pigmentosa
  5. Total colour blindness

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 3 and 4

  4. 4 and 5

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Retinitis pigmentosa is XY-linked hereditary, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and often blindness. Total color blindness is severe vision imparement leaving a person completely unable to distinguish any color. It is a XY-linked hereditary disease.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are examples of autosomal recessive hereditary disorders? P. Albinism Q. Phenylketonuria R. Achondroplasia S. Brochydatyly

  1. P and Q

  2. P and R

  3. Q and R

  4. Q and S

  5. R and S
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Albinism and Phenylketonuria are examples of autosomal recessive hereditary disorders.Albinism is caused due to inability to produce melanin pigment characterized by absence of normal colouration of skin.Phenylketonuria is a metabolic disorder which arises due to deficiency of an enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase,  which converts phenylalanine to tyrosine.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Congenital diseases occur due to genetic disorders. b. Allergies are caused by external substances such as dust, pollen food etc. c. Degenerative diseases are caused by the infections caused by external substances.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

  5. b only

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both statements are correct. Congenital diseases occur due to genetic disorders. Allergies are caused by external substances such as dust, pollen food etc.

Multiple choice

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'prying', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

But with almost routine ways now available to test DNA samples for the presence of specific mutant genes, there is increased anxiety that an individual's genetic heritage may be vulnerable to unwanted prying. The DNA from a single human hair for example may be sufficient to alert a prospective employer or health insurer to a person's genetic predisposition to disease. Broad privacy laws must therefore be enacted to forbid genetic tests without the informed consent of the individual involved. But even with such laws, dilemmas will arise when individuals do not realise the significance of the proposed genetic screening. These tests warn of impending disease, but do not cure. And how many people would want to have certain knowledge that they will contract a disease for which there is no cure?

Banishing genetic disability must therefore be our primary concern. We would not worry about testing for a predisposing gene for Alzheimer's disease if we already had the cure. In this case, knowing that an individual is seriously predisposed might allow drug therapy to begin before brain functioning is irreversibly diminished. The recent discovery of several genes whose malfunctioning leads to Alzheimer's provides the pharmaceutical industry with important molecular targets for drug development. Only through the discovery of these kinds of genes can biomedical research stop this most pernicious cause of human senility.

  1. Inquiry

  2. Investigation

  3. Intrusion

  4. Enquiry
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In the context of genetic privacy, 'prying' means unauthorized, intrusive investigation into someone's private genetic information. 'Intrusion' best captures this sense of unwelcome invasion of privacy. 'Inquiry' and 'enquiry' are neutral terms for asking questions, while 'investigation' is a formal inquiry without necessarily implying invasion of privacy.

Multiple choice

Myasthenia gravis in the neonate is usually an autoimmune disorder is and is thought to be caused by

  1. an inherited genetic defect

  2. transplacental transfer of maternal IgG against the TSH receptor

  3. anti-idiotype to maternal IgG

  4. transplacental transfer of maternal IgG against the acetylcholine receptor

  5. maternal T-cells transferred across the placenta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Transient neonatal autoimmune diseases are seen due to the transplacental transfer of maternal IgG autoantibodies in those diseases in which IgG is the effector component of the autoimmune response. The disease will be of the same type as seen in the mother because the autoantibodies will determine the target organ specificity. The neonatal disease resolves after a few weeks as the maternal IgG is catabolised.