Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder affecting both men and women equally

Question

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder affecting both men and women equally. Individuals develop the disorder when they inherit 2 copies of the phenylalanine hydroxylase mutant allele. The disease characterized by an accumulation of phenylalanine that results in individual displays of severe mental deficiencies. One way to combat the disorder is to place suspected PKU children on strict phenylalanine-free diets that allow the child to develop normally. Which of the following best describes the allele for PKU? Conditional allele Co-dominant allele Sex-linked allele Sex-limited allele Dominant mutant allele

Explanation / Answer

This disease is due to recessive alleles. Both the genes should be affected. This is the case of dominant mutant alleles which is responsible for non conversion of phenylalanine into tyrosine and hence increase in the level of phenylalanine increasing toxicity in the body.

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