does anyone know what "loss of heterozygosity means?

[peach4me]

---

Members don't see this ad.

well?

 

[bulletproof]

loss of heterozygosity is exemplifed by Retinoblastoma, whereby a child is born with with the Rb gene dysfunctional on one chromosome ( inherited mutation, heterozygous for having RB tumor suppresor gene), with the other Rb gene intact. The child later loses the other gene to spontaneous/environmental agent etc. ( loss of heterozygosity), and now develops neoplasia. My apologies if that is incorrect. I am going on pure recall.

 

[saco]

loss of heterozygosity is exemplifed by Retinoblastoma, whereby a child is born with with the Rb gene dysfunctional on one chromosome ( inherited mutation, heterozygous for having RB tumor suppresor gene), with the other Rb gene intact. The child later loses the other gene to spontaneous/environmental agent etc. ( loss of heterozygosity), and now develops neoplasia. My apologies if that is incorrect. I am going on pure recall.

That is essentially correct. One allele is gone from the start (heterozygosity) and the other (normal) is lost due to for example somatic mutation. There are many example in the literature (Rb being one) including LOH in colon cancer and others.
You van also start off with two normal alleles, lose one and then the other.

 

[fatoldcrone]

That is essentially correct. One allele is gone from the start (heterozygosity) and the other (normal) is lost due to for example somatic mutation. There are many example in the literature (Rb being one) including LOH in colon cancer and others.
You van also start off with two normal alleles, lose one and then the other.

Do a search on Knudson's 2 hit hypothesis