As a subject matter expert in medical genetics, I can provide you with an accurate explanation of methemoglobinemia and its inheritance pattern.
Methemoglobinemia is a condition characterized by the presence of an abnormally high level of methemoglobin in the blood. Methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin that cannot bind oxygen effectively. There are two main types of methemoglobinemia: congenital and acquired.
Congenital methemoglobinemia is
dominant in its inheritance pattern. This means that an individual only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from one parent to express the condition. The reason for this is that the mutated gene produces an abnormal hemoglobin molecule that can cause methemoglobinemia even if the other gene is normal. There are two types of congenital methemoglobinemia: type I and type II. Type I is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme NADH-methemoglobin reductase, while type II is due to a mutation in the hemoglobin itself.
Acquired methemoglobinemia, on the other hand, is not inherited but rather occurs due to exposure to certain chemicals or drugs that can oxidize hemoglobin to methemoglobin.
In summary, congenital methemoglobinemia is
dominant because the presence of just one mutated gene is sufficient to cause the condition.
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