196k views
4 votes
If there is a mutation in the gene for collagen, such as the one involved in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the individual produces defective collagen, would it affect coagulation? Why or why not?

a) Yes, because collagen is essential for blood clotting.
b) No, collagen does not play a role in coagulation.
c) Yes, but only in the presence of vitamin K.
d) No, coagulation is independent of collagen function.

User Tomomi
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Mutation in the gene for collagen does not directly affect coagulation; collagen's role is more about the mechanical initiation of clotting, not the clotting factors or cascade involved in coagulation itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

If there is a mutation in the gene for collagen, such as the one involved in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which leads to the individual producing defective collagen, it would not directly affect the process of coagulation. Collagen plays a crucial role in the initial stages of clot formation, specifically in the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation, where it helps to activate platelets and initiate the clotting cascade. However, mutations like those in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome primarily affect the structure and function of connective tissue, and their effects on coagulation would only be indirect through the vascular integrity rather than directly affecting the clotting factors or the coagulation cascade itself.

Thus, the correct answer to the question would be 'd) No, coagulation is independent of collagen function.' since collagen's role is connected to mechanical aspects of clot formation, but the coagulation cascade in itself, which involves various clotting factors, is independent of collagen.

User Boris Dalstein
by
7.7k points