Chapter 17, Problem 16P

A $\text{50-}$ year $\text{-}$ old man has been diagnosed with MELAS syndrome (see Figure $17.6$). His wife is phenotypically normal, and there is no history of MELAS syndrome in either of their families. The couple is concerned about whether their children will develop the disease. As a genetic counselor, what will you tell them? Would your answer change if it were the mother who exhibited disease symptoms rather than the father?