Question

Compare the enzyme (molecular) and whole-body (general) phenotypes of heterozygotes for Tay-Sachs disease to heterozygotes for AB blood type.

Answer 1

Tay Sachs disease is an autosomal recessive disorder. Individual suffering from Tay Sachs disease lack the beta hexosaminidase A enzyme. This enzyme play an important role in the hydrolysis of GM2 gangliosides. In absence of this enzyme gangliosides get accumulates in the nervous system and disrupt the functioning of brain.

As Tay Sachs is an autosomal recessive disorder that means heterozygous will exhibit normal phenotype and act as the carrier for the next generation.

AB blood type contain both IA allele and IB allele. Hexosaminidase A enzyme cleaves the N acetyl galactosamine .

A blood group contain N acetyl galactosamine and B blood group contain galactose as a sugar residues on their surface and type O blood group does not contain any sugar residues on their surface.

Phenotype will be normal as it is heterozygous.