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Multiple Choice
Which of these statements is true regarding autosomal recessive inheritance?
A
Only one parent needs to be a carrier for the offspring to be affected.
B
The trait is more common in males than females.
C
Both parents must be carriers for the offspring to be affected.
D
The trait is expressed in every generation.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of autosomal recessive inheritance: In this type of inheritance, a trait is expressed only when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, one from each parent.
Recognize that for an offspring to be affected by an autosomal recessive trait, both parents must be carriers. This means each parent has one copy of the recessive allele but does not express the trait themselves.
Consider the genetic makeup of the parents: If both parents are carriers, their genotype can be represented as Aa, where 'A' is the dominant allele and 'a' is the recessive allele.
Use a Punnett square to visualize the possible genotypes of the offspring: Cross the genotypes of the parents (Aa x Aa) to determine the probability of the offspring inheriting the recessive trait.
Analyze the results of the Punnett square: The possible genotypes of the offspring are AA, Aa, Aa, and aa. Only the 'aa' genotype will express the autosomal recessive trait, which occurs when both parents contribute the recessive allele.