A husband and wife have normal vision, although both of their fathers are red–green color-blind, an inherited X-linked recessive condition. What is the probability that their first child will be (a) a normal son, (b) a normal daughter, (c) a color-blind son, (d) a color-blind daughter?
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
Sex-Linked Genes
Problem 24
Textbook Question
In humans, the ABO blood type is under the control of autosomal multiple alleles. Color blindness is a recessive X-linked trait. If two parents who are both type A and have normal vision produce a son who is color-blind and is type O, what is the probability that their next child will be a female who has normal vision and is type O?

1
Determine the genotypes of the parents for both traits. For the ABO blood type, since both parents are type A but produce a child with type O, they must both have the genotype IAi. For color blindness, since the son is color-blind (XbY) and the mother has normal vision, the mother must be a carrier (XBXb), and the father must have normal vision (XBY).
Set up a Punnett square for the ABO blood type. Cross the parental genotypes IAi × IAi to determine the possible blood types of their offspring. The possible genotypes are IAIA, IAi, and ii, where ii corresponds to blood type O.
Set up a Punnett square for the X-linked color blindness trait. Cross the parental genotypes XBXb (mother) and XBY (father). This will determine the probabilities of offspring being male or female and having normal vision or color blindness.
Combine the results of the two Punnett squares. Identify the probability of a child being female (XX), having normal vision (XBXB or XBXb), and having blood type O (ii). Multiply the probabilities from the ABO blood type and color blindness Punnett squares.
Interpret the combined probability to determine the likelihood of the next child being a female with normal vision and type O blood. Ensure that the final probability accounts for all independent events (sex determination, blood type, and vision status).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
ABO Blood Type Genetics
The ABO blood type system is determined by multiple alleles (IA, IB, and i) located on an autosome. Individuals can have blood types A, B, AB, or O depending on the combination of alleles inherited from their parents. Type O results from the presence of two i alleles, while type A can arise from either IAIA or IAi genotypes. Understanding this inheritance pattern is crucial for predicting the blood type of offspring.
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Descriptive Genetics
X-linked Inheritance
Color blindness is an X-linked recessive trait, meaning the gene responsible is located on the X chromosome. Males, having one X and one Y chromosome, express the trait if they inherit the affected X. Females, with two X chromosomes, must inherit two affected X chromosomes to express color blindness. This concept is essential for determining the likelihood of color blindness in offspring based on parental genotypes.
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X-Inactivation
Punnett Squares and Probability
Punnett squares are tools used to predict the genetic outcomes of offspring based on parental genotypes. By mapping the possible allele combinations from each parent, one can calculate the probabilities of various traits in the offspring. In this scenario, constructing Punnett squares for both ABO blood type and color blindness will help determine the likelihood of having a female child with normal vision and type O blood.
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Probability
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