AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Tay-Sachs disease is a genetic disorder that is passed from parents to their children. It occurs when a child inherits a flaw (mutation) in the HEXA gene from both parents.

Detailed explanation-2: -The blood test checks the levels of hexosaminidase A enzyme in the blood. The levels are low or absent in Tay-Sachs disease. Genetic testing. This test can examine the HEXA gene to identify whether there are changes that indicate Tay-Sachs disease.

Detailed explanation-3: -Infants with this condition develop an exaggerated startle reaction to loud noises. As the disease progresses, children with Tay-Sachs disease experience involuntary muscle twitches (myoclonic jerks), seizures, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), vision and hearing loss, and intellectual disability.

Detailed explanation-4: -Babies born with Tay-Sachs develop as expected in the first 3 to 6 months of life. Then, within months to a few years, they lose the ability to see, hear, and move. By age 2, most start having seizures. Unfortunately, children with the condition usually do not live past 5 years of age.

Detailed explanation-5: -Tay-Sachs disease is a rare inherited condition that mainly affects babies and young children. It stops the nerves working properly and is usually fatal. It used to be most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (most Jewish people in the UK), but many cases now occur in people from other ethnic backgrounds.