A woman has a normal number of fingers and toes. She has many relatives with ext

Question

A woman has a normal number of fingers and toes. She has many relatives with extra fingers and toes: her father, grandfather, brother and three cousins. Her husband has the normal number of digits, and none of his relatives have extra fingers and toes. This couple has a child with six fingers on each hand, another child with six toes on one foot, and one child with no extra fingers or toes. A genetic counselor has told the couple this trait, known as polydactyly, is autosomal dominant. What other information could be given to the couple to explain the possible reasons for this trait in this family?

Explanation / Answer

Answer:Polydactyly

Polydactyly meaning many also known as hyperdactyly ,is a congenital physical anomaly in humans,dogs,and cats having supernumerary fingers and toes.

Polydactyly is a inherited condition in which a person has extra fingers or toes.It is caused by a dominant allele of a gene.This means it can be passed on by just one parent if they have the disorder.

Polydactyly condition occurs without an apparent cause.while some may be due to a genetic defect or underlying hereditary syndrome.

Causes

During normal embryonic development the hand initially firms in the shape of a paddle.and then about the sixth or seventh week of gestation splits into separate fingers ,polydactyly results if there is an irregularity in this process,An extra finger forms when a single finger splits into two.

  

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