Who first diagnosed alkaptonuria?

Alkaptonuria was first described and diagnosed by Sir Archibald Edward Garrod, an English physician and biochemist, in 1902. He conducted extensive research on the disorder and published his findings in a paper titled “The Incidence of Alkaptonuria: A Study in Chemical Individuality.” Garrod recognized alkaptonuria as the first example of an inborn error of metabolism, […]

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What is the metabolic pathway of alkaptonuria?

Alkaptonuria is a rare genetic disorder that affects the metabolism of a specific amino acid called tyrosine. In individuals with alkaptonuria, there is a deficiency of an enzyme called homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD), which is responsible for the breakdown of a compound called homogentisic acid (HGA). The lack of HGD enzyme activity leads to the accumulation […]

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What is the difference between phenylketonuria and alkaptonuria?

Phenylketonuria (PKU) and alkaptonuria are both rare genetic disorders, but they affect different metabolic pathways and have distinct symptoms. Here’s a brief overview of the differences between the two conditions: Phenylketonuria (PKU): Metabolic Pathway: PKU is caused by a deficiency or absence of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), which is responsible for breaking down the […]

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