Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
X-linked Recessive Inheritance
Lesch–Nyhan syndrome is an X-linked recessive disorder, meaning the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome. Males, having one X and one Y chromosome, are more likely to express the disorder if they inherit the affected X. In contrast, females have two X chromosomes, so they would need two copies of the mutated gene to be affected, making them carriers if they have only one.
Recommended video:
Carrier Status
In X-linked recessive disorders, females can be carriers if they possess one normal and one mutated X chromosome. A carrier female has a 50% chance of passing the affected X chromosome to her sons, who would then express the disorder. Understanding the carrier status of the mother is crucial in determining the probability of the son being affected.
Recommended video:
Probability Calculation
To determine the probability that the first son of a man whose brother has Lesch–Nyhan syndrome will be affected, we must consider the genetic background of the parents. Since the man is unaffected but has an affected brother, he does not carry the mutation. If the mother is a carrier, the son has a 50% chance of being affected. Thus, the overall probability depends on the mother's carrier status.
Recommended video: