User talk:Tetatetinscience/sandbox

When a genetic mutation or genotype in one locus results in a phenotype similar to one that is known to be caused by another mutation or genotype in another locus, it is said to be a genocopy. However, genocopies may also be referred to as "genetic mimics", in which the same mutation or specific genotype can result in two unique phenotypes in two different patients. The term “Genocopy” was coined by Dr. H. Nachstheim in 1957, in which he discusses “false” phenocopies. In comparison to when a phenotype is the result of an environmental condition that had the same effect as a previously known genetic factor such as mutation. While offspring may inherit specific mutations or genotypes that result in genocopies, phenocopies are not heritable.

Mitochondrial Diseases
Since Mitochondria carry out such a variety of functions in different tissues, there are often hundreds of Mitochondrial diseases that might be harder to diagnose in early stages. Since there is a complex relationship between cells and genes to have metabolism at its optimum, identical Mitochondrial DNA mutations may not show up as identical diseases. Genocopies are often seen as diseases that might be caused by the same mutation but do not result in identical expression. Diseases associated with mtDNA are often as a result of mutations in tRNA that plays a role in mitochondrial protein synthesis, mutations that change protein-encoding genes or both. How each category of cause of mitochondrial disease produces genocopies is still unknown.

DiGeorge syndrome
Another genocopy that can cause harmful symptoms is the genocopy event between TBX1 and 22q11.2 mutations. The 22q11.2 mutation leads to DiGeorge or velocardiofacial syndromes, and the mutations in the TBX1 genome also leads to these symptoms. The TBX1 haploinsufficiency is responsible for many of the traits that are also seen in 22q11.2 mutations. In the case of TBX1, it has 2 mutations that are similar to the two mutations of 22q11.2: deletion and duplication. The first mutation is L411P and is a de novo mutation. This mutation affects a conserved amino acid within a putative transactivation domain and is likely to affect the protein's functionality. The second mutation is one that converts a cytosine to thymine in the 5’ UTR region of the TBX1 gene. This mutation increases TBX1 translational efficiency during key points in development, which is the functional equivalent to 22q11.2 duplication. This shows us that genocopy is not just a discrete genomic event but can also be seen in serious diseases.