A woman's father has ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTD), an X-linked recessive disorder producing mental deterioration if not properly treated. The woman's mother is homozygous for the wild-type allele.

Identify a male with whom the woman could produce a daughter with OTD.

Key Concepts

X-Linked Recessive Inheritance

X-linked recessive disorders are caused by mutations on the X chromosome. Males, having only one X chromosome, are more likely to express these disorders if they inherit the mutated allele. Females, with two X chromosomes, can be carriers if they have one mutated allele and one normal allele, but they typically express the disorder only if they are homozygous for the mutated allele.

Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTD)

OTD is a genetic disorder that affects the urea cycle, leading to the accumulation of ammonia in the blood, which can cause severe neurological damage. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner, meaning that affected males will express the disorder, while females may be carriers or affected if they inherit two copies of the mutated gene.

Genetic Crosses and Punnett Squares

Genetic crosses, often illustrated using Punnett squares, help predict the inheritance of traits based on parental genotypes. In this scenario, understanding the genotypes of the woman (carrier) and potential male partners allows for the prediction of offspring genotypes, determining the likelihood of producing a daughter with OTD.