Final answer:
Huntington's disease is an inherited degenerative disorder that affects the brain's cells and causes a range of physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms. It is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene and usually becomes apparent in middle age. The disease can be passed on to offspring with a 50 percent chance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Huntington's disease is an inherited degenerative disorder that causes the brain's cells to break down, leading to muscle spasms and personality changes. It is characterized by the death of cortical and striatal neurons, resulting in a range of physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes the huntingtin protein, which leads to the production of a longer than normal sequence of glutamine residues at the N-terminus of the protein. The symptoms usually become apparent in middle age, but the mutation can be passed on to offspring with a 50 percent chance