Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Probability and Genetics
3:20 minutes
Problem 40a
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionAlkaptonuria is an infrequent autosomal recessive condition. It is first noticed in newborns when the urine in their diapers turns black upon exposure to air. The condition is caused by the defective transport of the amino acid phenylalanine through the intestinal walls during digestion. About 4 people per 1000 are carriers of alkaptonuria.
Sara and James had never heard of alkaptonuria and were shocked to discover that their first child had the condition. Sara's sister Mary and her husband, Frank, are planning to have a family and are concerned about the possibility of alkaptonuria in one of their children.
The four adults (Sara, James, Mary, and Frank) seek information from a neighbor who is a retired physician. After discussing their family histories, the neighbor says, 'I never took genetics, but I know from my many years in practice that Sara and James are both carriers of this recessive condition. Since their first child had the condition, there is a very low chance that the next child will also have it, because the odds of having two children with a recessive condition are very low. Mary and Frank have no chance of having a child with alkaptonuria because Frank has no family history of the condition.' The two couples each have babies and both babies have alkaptonuria.
The couples are worried that one of their grandchildren will inherit alkaptonuria. How would you assess the risk that one of the offspring of a child with alkaptonuria will inherit the condition?
Verified Solution
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
3mPlay a video:
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
Autosomal recessive inheritance occurs when a trait or condition is expressed only when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, one inherited from each parent. In the case of alkaptonuria, both parents must be carriers of the defective gene for their child to express the condition. This means that even if a child inherits one normal allele, they will not show symptoms unless they inherit the recessive allele from both parents.
Recommended video:
Guided course
09:08
Autosomal Pedigrees
Carrier Status
A carrier is an individual who possesses one copy of a recessive allele for a genetic condition but does not exhibit symptoms of the condition themselves. In the context of alkaptonuria, both Sara and James are carriers, which means they can pass the recessive allele to their children. Understanding carrier status is crucial for assessing the risk of passing on genetic conditions, especially in families with a history of such disorders.
Recommended video:
Guided course
10:56
Sex-Linked Pedigrees
Punnett Square
A Punnett square is a diagram used to predict the genetic makeup of offspring from a cross between two parents. It helps visualize the possible combinations of alleles that can result from the parents' genotypes. In assessing the risk of alkaptonuria in the offspring of Sara and James, a Punnett square can illustrate the probabilities of their children being affected, carriers, or unaffected based on their carrier status.
Recommended video:
Guided course
18:27
Chi Square Analysis
Related Videos
Related Practice