Question

All of the following characteristics of Tay-Sachs Disease indicates that the disorder has a genetic basis except?

Group of answer choices

Prior to its discovery in humans, no known animal models of Tay-Sachs (or similar genetic disorders in animals) were known to exist

The frequency of the disorder is approximately 1/3,600 in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, but is much less common in other Caucasian populations

Individuals with Tay-Sachs have a common mutation in the hexA gene

Tay-Sachs has a characteristic age of onset of 4 months of age

Tay-Sachs is more likely to occur in blood relatives than in the general population

Answer 1

This disease is a genetic disease, passes through families (blood relatives) due to mutation in HexA gene and Ashkenazi Jewish people are more frequent to have this disorder as compared to general population, an average onset age is 4 (third month to sixth). As options two to fifth are correct and relevant for Tay Sachs disorder so the incorrect option in the given situation would be “Prior to its discovery in humans, no known animal models of Tay-Sachs (or similar genetic disorders in animals) were known to exist” as it is already exist in British sheep breed (Jacob) due to mutation in homologous genes (identical)