Question 1

how come only jews get tay sachs?

Accepted Answer

Heredity: Jews were isolated in communities in eastern europe when they were forbidden to mix with the rest of the populace.  At some time about 300-400 years ago, a mutation occurred which led to tay sachs in that community.  Since outmixture was not common, the gene stayed in that population and since it was recessive, it could propogate. Jews of that origin can marry and the disease shows up.

Question 2

why do jews have tay-sachs disease?

Accepted Answer

Not known why: It is known to have prevalence in ashkenazi jews approximately 1 in 25 jews are carriers of tay sachs disease which make this population particularly susceptible.1 in250 people are carriers. In the general population.Some explanations are attributed to genetic drift, the founder effect which occurs when a population is started de a very small number of individuals.

Question 3

my baby boy has tay-sachs. can we retest?

Accepted Answer

?Re-test?: The diagnosis of any life threatening illness  in a patient that appears outwardly normal is going to bring initial shock & disbelief to most of us. Additional confirmatory tests by an alternate lab can be arranged for most conditions.Of note, carrier detection in the parents & other 1st degree family members would benefit your extended family. See:www.Ninds.Nih.Gov/disorders/taysachs/taysachs.Htm.

Question 4

which chromosome does tay-sachs disease change?

Accepted Answer

15: Tay sachs is an autosomal recessive disorder affecting chromosome 15 in the "hexa" gene.

Question 5

what is the lifespan of a tay-sachs diseased child?

Accepted Answer

Tay-Sachs Disease: For individuals with classic tay-sachs disease, death usually occurs by 2-4 years of age from bronchopneumonia.

Question 6

can you tell me are people with tay-sachs disease sterile?

Accepted Answer

Confusing question: These affected patients never live long enough to become fertile.The gene survives because it passes quietly in the unaffected carriers.Ts only emerges when 2 carrier parents give birth to an effected infant.

Question 7

what type of mutation is responsible for tay-sachs disease?

Accepted Answer

Autosomal recessive: The medical term for this type of inheritance is autosomal recessive.  Both parents must possess the recessive gene which is combined in the baby (receives two copies) and produces expression of the disorder.

Question 8

what is the life expectancy of someone with tay sachs disease?

Accepted Answer

Tay Sachs: Tay Sachs disease is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease cause by excessive storage of Gm2 ganglioside withinn cell lysomes. Normal motor function first few months of life following by progressive weakness, starting at 2 to 6 months of age. Life expectancy is 2 to 5 years. Consult genetic expert.

Question 9

is tay-sachs disease a result of nondisjunction during meiosis?

Accepted Answer

No: Tay-sachs d. Inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
The problems lies in enzyme gene mutation (hexa) located in lysosomes, no gm2 gangliosids break down.

Question 10

with infantile tay-sachs disease, does the baby always end up handicapped?

Accepted Answer

TaySachs Disease: Yes thevchild ends up handicapped and eventually dies.

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Tay sachs information

A member asked:

How come only jews get tay sachs?

A member asked:

Why do jews have tay-sachs disease?

A member asked:

My baby boy has tay-sachs. can we retest?

A member asked:

Which chromosome does tay-sachs disease change?

A member asked:

What is the lifespan of a tay-sachs diseased child?

A member asked:

Can you tell me are people with tay-sachs disease sterile?

A member asked:

What type of mutation is responsible for tay-sachs disease?

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of someone with tay sachs disease?

A member asked:

Is tay-sachs disease a result of nondisjunction during meiosis?

A member asked:

With infantile tay-sachs disease, does the baby always end up handicapped?

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