Colorblindness
The growth of diseases and disorders has become a prevalent topic throughout the history of mankind. A common example of these maladies is the issue of colorblindness. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, colorblindness is defined as being “affected with partial or total inability to distinguish one or more chromatic colors” (Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2012). This genetic trait affects the lives of many living within the world today.
“Color deficiency” (A.D.A.M., 2011), known for short as color blindness, is generally classified mainly as a sex-linked genetic disorder. Genetic diseases as a whole are usually considered incurable disorders that are linked to the DNA make-up of the individual. They are created due to a malfunction of the forming of the genetic code such as, not correctly copying the complimentary combination of DNA genetic material during replication and transcription, and failing to accurately completing the process of creating RNA during translation. Outside of DNA and RNA production, genetic disorders can be formed by other methods including adding or subtracting the number of chromosomes from the required amount in each cell; humans need forty-six chromosomes to function at optimal standards. In most cases, children receive these traits from the inheriting of their parents. These accidental changes can seem minuscule or diminutive to the naked eye, but from a molecular point of reference even the slightest change in genetic make-up can cause a devastating impact on the livelihood of the individual (Campbell, Williamson, & Heyden, 2006).
However colorblindness, specifically red-green colorblindness, is sex-linked by the occurrence of dominant and recessive sex-linked alleles. “Sex-linked alleles are those located on one sex chromosome but not the other” (Campbell, Williamson, & Heyden, 2006). The pedigree in figure 1 illustrates how two parents that are neither fully affected can give birth to an affected son. In order for this event to
“Color deficiency” (A.D.A.M., 2011), known for short as color blindness, is generally classified mainly as a sex-linked genetic disorder. Genetic diseases as a whole are usually considered incurable disorders that are linked to the DNA make-up of the individual. They are created due to a malfunction of the forming of the genetic code such as, not correctly copying the complimentary combination of DNA genetic material during replication and transcription, and failing to accurately completing the process of creating RNA during translation. Outside of DNA and RNA production, genetic disorders can be formed by other methods including adding or subtracting the number of chromosomes from the required amount in each cell; humans need forty-six chromosomes to function at optimal standards. In most cases, children receive these traits from the inheriting of their parents. These accidental changes can seem minuscule or diminutive to the naked eye, but from a molecular point of reference even the slightest change in genetic make-up can cause a devastating impact on the livelihood of the individual (Campbell, Williamson, & Heyden, 2006).
However colorblindness, specifically red-green colorblindness, is sex-linked by the occurrence of dominant and recessive sex-linked alleles. “Sex-linked alleles are those located on one sex chromosome but not the other” (Campbell, Williamson, & Heyden, 2006). The pedigree in figure 1 illustrates how two parents that are neither fully affected can give birth to an affected son. In order for this event to