What is an example of a multifactorial disorder?
Sickle cell anemia
Cystic fibrosis
Hemophilia A
Cleft palate
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. Sickle cell anemia is a monogenic disorder caused by a mutation in the HBB gene, which leads to abnormal hemoglobin S production. It follows a Mendelian autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, meaning a person must inherit two defective alleles (one from each parent) to express the disease. Environmental factors have little influence on whether the disease occurs, although they can affect disease severity.
B. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene and is also a single-gene autosomal recessive disorder. Disease expression is largely determined by genetics, although certain environmental factors, like respiratory infections, may influence symptoms and progression. It is not considered multifactorial because a single gene mutation is sufficient to cause the disorder.
C. Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the factor VIII gene. Males are predominantly affected because they have only one X chromosome. This disorder follows a single-gene inheritance pattern, and while environmental factors can influence bleeding risk, the underlying cause is genetic alone.
D. Cleft palate is a classic example of a multifactorial disorder. It results from the interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition may increase risk, but environmental influences—such as maternal smoking, alcohol use, certain medications, or nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy—can trigger or exacerbate the condition. Unlike single-gene disorders, multifactorial conditions do not follow simple Mendelian inheritance and often appear sporadically within families, though they may recur more frequently among relatives.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. This describes a local infection, where the pathogen affects only one specific area, such as a skin abscess or localized wound infection. Symptoms are limited to that area.
B. This describes a subclinical or latent infection, where the pathogen is present but does not produce noticeable symptoms. It is not systemic because it does not actively spread to multiple sites.
C. A systemic infection involves the spread of pathogens or their toxins through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to multiple organs and tissues. Examples include sepsis, bacteremia, or viral infections like influenza that affect multiple organ systems. Systemic infections often cause fever, malaise, hypotension, and widespread inflammation.
D. This describes a polymicrobial infection, which can be local or systemic depending on spread, but having multiple pathogens at one site does not define systemic infection.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Autosomal dominant disorders do not typically skip generations. If a parent carries the dominant allele, there is a 50% chance of passing it to each child, so the trait usually appears in every generation. Skipping generations is more characteristic of autosomal recessive disorders, where individuals can be carriers without showing symptoms.
B. Autosomal dominant disorders affect both males and females equally, because the gene is located on an autosome (non-sex chromosome). There is no sex-specific pattern of inheritance.
C. Autosomal dominant disorders can manifest at any age, depending on the specific condition. Some, like Huntington disease, appear in adulthood, while others, such as Marfan syndrome, may be evident at birth or in early childhood.
D. In autosomal dominant disorders, an individual with one copy of the mutated gene will express the disorder, meaning there are no asymptomatic carriers. Each affected person shows signs of the disease, even if symptoms are mild. Carriers, by definition, are asymptomatic individuals with a recessive allele, which does not apply in dominant disorders.Top of FormBottom of Form
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