A clinical test on humans of a new drug is normally done in three phases. Phase I is conducted with a relatively small number of healthy volunteers. For example, a phase I test of a specific drug involved only 8 subjects. Assume that we want to treat 8 healthy humans with this new drug and we have 12 suitable volunteers available.

Mr. wayne is a 38-year-old man with a significant history of elevated cholesterol levels. his father died at age 42 from a massive heart attack secondary to elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and two of his older siblings are currently taking medications to lower their cholesterol levels. mr. wayne makes an appointment to discuss his risk for hypercholesterolemia. the nurse recognizes that mr. wayne is at risk for familial hypercholesterolemia because this is an autoomal dominant inherited condition. a. describe the pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance. b. mr. wayne asks what chance his children have of developing familial hypercholesterolemia. how should the nurse respond? c. explain the phenomenon of penetrance observed in autosomal dominant inheritance.