Re: another genetic question! *BARGE*

[Guest guest]

I hope you don't mind my barge. It's completely incorrect that

genetic issues are only passed through the mother, as your son claims

he was told. I suspect that your son may be confusing general

genetic issues with either sex linked traits (disorders such as

hemophilia or color blindedness that, because of the structure of the

X and Y chromosome, males are more likely to get than females) or

mitochondrial DNA, which is indeed inherited only from the maternal

source. CD/DH is connected to neither of these issues.

Of course, there is a third, more horrific possibility, and that's

that the teacher actually said that genetics only come through the

maternal side, but as the spouse of a teacher, I know that 99.9% of

the time, " what the teacher said " gets very garbled between the

classroom and the home (-:

Hope that helps.

>

> I think I'm probably addressing this question to Philip D., who

> appears to be very well versed in genetics! Thank you for you

> response to my first question. I must admit that I didn't

> understand all of the specifics, but I get the jist of it.

>

> This question is to settle a question between my 15 yr old and me.

> Although he understands that he is at risk for CD/DH, he insists

> that his high school biology teacher told the class that he (my

son)

> cannot transmit actual CD to his own kids because 'genetic diseases

> are only transmitted thru the maternal genes'. Therefore, his

> children will not develop CD, though they may be carriers, and if

he

> has a daughter, her children could have actual CD. I tried to

> explain that I don't believe that's true (ie, Woody Guthrie's kids

> being at risk for Huntington's, therefore, genetic diseases can be

> passed thru paternal genes), but you know that Moms don't know

> anything these days!

>

> Can you help settle this question?

>

> Hope you, and all the 'SillyYaks' had a great Holiday Season. This

> was my first 'GF' and although there were some changes in our

> traditional foods and treats (Santa no longer likes White Chocolate

> dipped Oreos, he likes GF gingersnaps) it was still the same

> wonderful holiday.

>

> Blessings to all,

>

> Stormy