Genetic and Pediatric Diseases · USMLE Step 1

Which of the following best describes the inheritance pattern of most classical inborn errors like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and Tay–Sachs disease?

  1. Autosomal dominant
  2. Autosomal recessive
  3. X-linked recessive
  4. Mitochondrial
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Autosomal recessive

These disorders are typically inherited in an autosomal recessive manner — requiring two defective alleles (one from each parent) for the disease phenotype to appear.

Difficulty: Medium Question 8 of 20

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