What is a polygenic trait? Give an example of a human polygenic trait.
A polygenic trait is a characteristic, such as height or skin color, that is influenced by two or more genes
What is the name of the disease Lorenzo had in the movie?
Lorenzo had Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a genetic disease that progressively destroys the brains of young boys
What pattern of inheritance does the disease (Lorenzo had) show?
X-linked (Sex-linked) inheritance
What is myelin?
Myelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord
What happens to the myelin around the nerve cells of ALD boys? What causes this change to occur?
buildup of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the brain that destroy the protective myelin sheath around nerve cells.
