What type of genetic inheritance pattern does Lynch Syndrome follow?

Lynch Syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that only one copy of the mutated gene inherited from an affected parent is sufficient to increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly colorectal and endometrial cancers.

In autosomal dominant inheritance, individuals with the mutation have a 50% chance of passing it to their offspring, regardless of the sex of the parent or child. Therefore, if a parent is affected by Lynch Syndrome, each child has a significant chance of inheriting the mutation and consequently facing an increased risk for cancer.

The other inheritance patterns do not apply here. Autosomal recessive patterns would require two copies of the mutated gene for an individual to express the condition, which is not the case with Lynch Syndrome. X-linked recessive inheritance typically pertains to genes located on the X chromosome and usually affects males more severely than females. Codominant inheritance involves the expression of both alleles in a heterozygous individual, which is not relevant in the context of Lynch Syndrome. Thus, the autosomal dominant inheritance accurately describes the genetic transmission of Lynch Syndrome.