Suppose Alia recently learned that she inherited a mutant RB1 allele from her mother, who had retinoblastoma. RB1 is a tumor suppressor gene that is related to retinoblastoma. Why would Alia be at higher risk for getting retinoblastoma at an earlier age than her sister, Francine, who inherited a normal RB1 allele from their mother?

Question

Biology

Esmeralda Mathews

14 August, 12:36

Suppose Alia recently learned that she inherited a mutant RB1 allele from her mother, who had retinoblastoma. RB1 is a tumor suppressor gene that is related to retinoblastoma. Why would Alia be at higher risk for getting retinoblastoma at an earlier age than her sister, Francine, who inherited a normal RB1 allele from their mother?

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Zaria Alexander · Answer 1

Tumour suppressor genes can readily convert into tumour causing genes if mutations arise in them.

As Alia has one of the alleles that is a mutant, she will have more chances of getting retinoblastoma if the other allele gets mutated. A person who has inherited two functioning alleles of a tumour suppressor gene will require both the alleles to get mutated for the development of the tumour, hence her sister, Francine, who inherited a normal RB1 allele will have lesser chances.