zimmermanj+Phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria is caused by mutation in chromosone 12. What Phenylketonuria does is break down ammino acid. Because of this phenylelanine floods into the brain most likely causing mental retardation. **Inheritance: **Both parents must be a carrier to inherit Phenylketonuria because it is a recessive disease. If both parents are carriers there is a 25% chance that their offspring will inherit Phenylketonuria.
 * Description: **

**Symptoms: ** There are no symptoms at first but if left untreated some symptoms can be; behavioral problems, epilepsies, musty body odor, skin rash, small head, and fair skin. **Diagnosis: **Well, Phenylketonuria MUST be treated as early as possible. Every baby in every state in the United States of America is tested for the disease. This is done by taking a small blood sample from the baby’s arm or the heel of his foot and tested in a laboratory. **Treatment: ** **Research: ** Most of the research that has been done is trying to insert an enzyme into capsules for gene therapy for parents who CARRY the gene. Sadly not too much other possible-success cures have been thought-up/invented **Additional Facts: ** 1 additional fact would be that out of 15,000 babies, only 1 will be born with phenylketonuria