How to Answer: Do you know of a genetic disorder that primarily affects male individuals?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical Research - Genome job interview.
25. Do you know of a genetic disorder that primarily affects male individuals?
How to Answer
Females have two X chromosomes and males only have one. This fact, along with the occurrence of what geneticists call mosaicism, may explain why women are less susceptible than men to certain genetic diseases. While some women may have a mostly male diagnosed disorder, there are some that are primarily diagnosed in males. Share any information you have.
1st Answer Example
"One predominately male diagnosed genetic disorder I can think of is Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It occurs primarily in males, though in rare cases may affect females. It is a progressive form of muscular dystrophy that causes weakness and loss of skeletal and heart muscles."
2nd Answer Example
"Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), also known as Hunter syndrome, is a condition that affects many different parts of the body and occurs almost exclusively in males. It is a progressively debilitating disorder. The rate of progression varies among affected individuals."