While assessing a patient, the nurse notes an irregularity that has been observed in other patients, but on an inconsistent basis. What did the nurse most likely discover in this patient?

Question

1. a polymorphism
2. a mutation
3. a single-gene inheritance pattern
4. an X-linked inheritance pattern

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1

A polymorphism is a change in DNA sequence that has been identified in more than 1% of the population and is, thus, more commonly observed than a mutation. Polymorphisms differ from mutations in that they are observed more frequently in the general population than mutations. A mutation is a change in DNA sequence that has been identified in less than 1% of the population. A single-gene inheritance pattern will follow a pattern of being present in every member of a generation or will skip a generation, depending if the alteration is dominant or recessive. In the X-linked inheritance pattern, the mutant gene is located on the X chromosome. Males have only one X chromosome with no counterpart for its genes therefore the alteration will appear in all males. Because the female as two X chromosomes, the alteration may or may not occur.