Question

Many children born with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC) die within seventy-two hours of birth. Jesse Gelsinger was not diagnosed with OTC until he was two because _______ and therefore his symptoms were milder.

a) He had a different genetic disorder
b) He had a late-onset form of OTC
c) He received early treatment
d) He had a strong immune system

Answer 1

Jesse Gelsinger was not diagnosed with OTC until the age of two due to a late-onset form of the deficiency, which caused milder symptoms and later onset.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jesse Gelsinger was not diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC) until he was two because he had a late-onset form of OTC, and therefore his symptoms were milder. Typically, severe cases of OTC deficiency are evident shortly after birth due to a critical enzyme not being produced, leading to a build-up of toxic ammonia. However, in late-onset forms, the enzyme may be partially functional or the enzyme deficiency may be less severe, leading to a milder accumulation of ammonia and later onset of symptoms.