How are traits inherited in autosomal dominant disorders?

In autosomal dominant disorders, the key characteristic is that only one copy of the mutated gene is sufficient to express the disorder. This means that an individual needs just one affected allele from either parent for the phenotype associated with the disorder to manifest.

This mode of inheritance allows individuals who have the disorder to pass it on to their offspring, often resulting in a 50% chance of transmitting the mutated gene to each child if one parent is affected. In contrast, traits inherited in autosomal recessive disorders typically require two copies of the mutated gene for the disorder to express itself, which explains why the other choices that suggest both alleles need to be mutated or that inheritance is restricted to maternal lineage are not correct in this context. Additionally, autosomal dominant disorders clearly follow Mendelian inheritance principles, so the claim that they do not adhere to these patterns is also inaccurate.

Understanding this mechanism of inheritance is critical, as it shapes how genetic counseling and medical understanding of these disorders are approached.