POMC deficiency is inherited through which genetic pattern?

POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) deficiency follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. This means that for an individual to exhibit symptoms of POMC deficiency, they must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. Parents who each carry one copy of the mutated gene (carriers) typically do not show any symptoms themselves but have a 25% chance of having an affected child with the condition.

POMC plays a crucial role in the regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis, and its deficiency leads to severe obesity due to dysregulation of these processes. Therefore, understanding the genetic inheritance of POMC deficiency is essential for genetic counseling and understanding the risks for offspring.

The other inheritance patterns—autosomal dominant, X-linked, and mitochondrial inheritance—are not applicable to POMC deficiency because they involve different mechanisms of genetic transmission. In autosomal dominant conditions, only one copy of a mutated gene is needed for a person to express the trait, while X-linked conditions typically affect males and are passed through the X chromosome. Mitochondrial inheritance involves mutations in mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from the mother.