Question
For the pedigree below , shaded symbols represent afflicted people. Males are squares; women are circles. If the trait is a sex-linkec I trait carried on the X chromosome, what is true about the mother represented by circle 1? She has one allele for the disorder. She has no alleles for the disorder. She has two alleles for the disorder. She has the genotype XXY.
Answer
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Winifred
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
# ExplanationIn this problem, we are dealing with a sex-linked trait carried on the
chromosome. To determine the genotype of the mother represented by circle 1, we need to understand how sex-linked traits are inherited.1. **Sex-Linked Traits on the
Chromosome:** - Males have one
chromosome and one
chromosome (
). - Females have two
chromosomes (
). - A male inherits his
chromosome from his mother and his
chromosome from his father. - A female inherits one
chromosome from each parent.2. **Genotypes and Phenotypes:** - If a trait is recessive and carried on the
chromosome, a female must have two copies of the allele (one on each
chromosome) to express the trait. - A male only needs one copy of the allele on his single
chromosome to express the trait.3. **Analyzing the Pedigree:** - Shaded symbols represent afflicted individuals. - Since males are squares and females are circles, we can identify the sex of each individual.Given that the trait is sex-linked and carried on the
chromosome, let's analyze the possible genotypes for the mother (circle 1):- If the mother (circle 1) is not shaded, she does not express the trait but can still be a carrier.- A carrier female has one normal allele and one allele for the disorder (
).- If the mother had two alleles for the disorder (
), she would be afflicted and shaded.- The genotype
is not applicable to females, as it represents a male with Klinefelter syndrome.Since the mother (circle 1) is not shaded but can pass the allele to her offspring, she must be a carrier.# AnswerShe has one allele for the disorder.