What is the mode of inheritance for Cohen syndrome?

Cohen syndrome is characterized by a range of symptoms including developmental delay, obesity, microcephaly, and distinct physical features. The correct answer identifies its mode of inheritance as autosomal recessive. This means that an individual must inherit two copies of the mutated gene—one from each parent—to express the condition. When both parents are carriers of the recessive gene, there’s a 25% chance with each pregnancy that their child will inherit both copies and exhibit Cohen syndrome.

Understanding the concept of autosomal recessive inheritance is crucial. In this mode, the parents might not display symptoms themselves if they are carriers (having only one copy of the mutated gene), but they can pass the gene on to their offspring. This pattern of inheritance is observed in several other genetic conditions as well.

Given this understanding, it’s evident that other potential modes of inheritance do not apply to Cohen syndrome. For instance, X-linked dominant inheritance would require that the trait be located on the X chromosome and typically affect males more severely than females. Autosomal dominant inheritance would necessitate only one copy of the mutated gene for an individual to express the trait, which is also inconsistent with the patterns observed in Cohen syndrome. Mitochondrial inheritance, related to genes located