A genetic disorder is an anomaly in the DNA that leads to a unique trait being present in an individual. They are caused by mutations in the genes and are extremely rare in most cases. Poland Anomaly, a rare genetic disorder, is responsible for the underdevelopment or lack of a left or right pectoral muscle (National Human Genome Research Institute). Exact statistics regarding the rarity of the disorder are difficult to acquire because it is thought to be underreported and underdiagnosed. As many as one in seven-thousand, or as little as one in one-hundred-thousand people could be affected by this disorder (National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences). Although the primary aspect of Poland Anomaly is the underdevelopment or lack of a pectoral muscle, there are many other effects of the disorder.
Symptoms of this disorder include the underdevelopment or lack of a pectoral muscle and nipple, webbed fingers with a shorter than average length, lack of armpit hair, skin in affected areas being hypoplastic, underdevelopment or lack of the upper rib cage, occasionally affecting the shoulder blade, and in extremely rare cases, spine or kidney problems may arise (National Human Genome Research Institute). Poland Anomaly observed within families reveals that it can be passed down from parent to offspring, whether the disorder
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In addition it causes the underdevelopment or lack of a nipple, webbed fingers with a shorter than average length, lack of armpit hair, skin in affected areas being hypoplastic, underdevelopment or lack of the upper rib cage, occasionally affecting the shoulder blade, and in extremely rare cases, spine or kidney problems. Although specifics on how the disorder is transmitted or what can be done to prevent it is limited at the time, research is continuing and more information will be uncovered in the