Neurofibromatosis Research Paper

I.

A. Neurofibromatosis, or NF, is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene.

B. Two types: NF1 and NF2

1. NF1- affects 1 out of 4,000 people

2. NF2- affects 1 out of 50,000 people

C. Inherited and autosomal

D. Can be potentially fatal

E. The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick, was thought to have NF, but he really had Proteus syndrome

F. Neurofibromatosis is a unique disorder because it is incurable, can be severely disfiguring, and can be either benign or terminal.

II.

A. NF is caused by a mutation in the NF1 gene, which creates the protein neurofibromin.

B. It is a potentially dangerous disorder

1. No cures or treatments

2. Some neurofibromas, or tumors, can be surgically removed

C. Around the 1990’s, there was excitement because scientists had found the gene that caused the disorder

D. However, they didn’t find a cure

1. Surgical removal of tumors proves to be a viable option, but it is not a cure

2. “...Rapidly growing tumors are removed as they may become malig...