Based on what you've learned about mutation, natural selection, and evolution, explain why Huntingdon's disease still exists. How might the disease be eradicated altogether?
Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the HTT gene. The gene mutation leads to the production of a protein that damages cells in the brain, causing progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. The presence of the Huntington's disease mutation in the population means that affected individuals can pass the mutation to their children.
Despite the detrimental effects of the Huntington's disease mutation, it still exists in the population because it is a relatively rare condition, affecting only about 5-7 per 100,000 people. Additionally, the mutation may not always cause noticeable symptoms until later in life, so individuals may pass it on to their offspring before realizing they have the condition. Finally, the fact that the mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner means that affected individuals have a 50% chance of passing on the mutation to their children.
To eradicate Huntington's disease altogether, several approaches could be taken. One possibility would be to develop effective treatments that can slow down or halt the progression of the disease, so that affected individuals can live longer, healthier lives and have fewer opportunities to pass on the mutation. Another option would be to use genetic interventions, such as gene editing or gene therapy, to correct or remove the faulty HTT gene in affected individuals or in embryos with the mutation before implantation. Finally, genetic counseling and testing could be used to identify individuals who carry the mutation and provide them with information about their reproductive options, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis or adoption. By combining these approaches, we may eventually be able to eliminate Huntington's disease from the population entirely.