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Ch. 4 - Modification of Mendelian Ratios
Klug - Essentials of Genetics 10th Edition
Klug10th EditionEssentials of GeneticsISBN: 9780135588789Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 4, Problem 29a

What genetic criteria distinguish a case of extranuclear inheritance from: 
(a) a case of Mendelian autosomal inheritance

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the definition of extranuclear inheritance, which refers to the transmission of genetic material that is not located within the nucleus, typically involving organelles like mitochondria or chloroplasts.
Step 2: Recall that Mendelian autosomal inheritance involves genes located on the nuclear autosomes, following predictable patterns such as dominant, recessive, or codominant traits according to Mendel's laws.
Step 3: Identify key genetic criteria that distinguish extranuclear inheritance, such as maternal inheritance (since organelles are usually inherited from the mother), lack of segregation according to Mendel's laws, and absence of recombination during sexual reproduction.
Step 4: Compare these criteria with Mendelian autosomal inheritance, which shows biparental inheritance, segregation of alleles during meiosis, and independent assortment of genes located on different chromosomes.
Step 5: Summarize that extranuclear inheritance is characterized by non-Mendelian patterns, maternal lineage transmission, and involvement of cytoplasmic genetic elements, whereas Mendelian autosomal inheritance follows nuclear gene segregation and independent assortment.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Extranuclear Inheritance

Extranuclear inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material located outside the nucleus, primarily in organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts. Unlike nuclear genes, these genes are usually inherited maternally and do not follow Mendelian segregation patterns. This type of inheritance affects traits linked to organelle function.
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05:13
Organelle Inheritance

Mendelian Autosomal Inheritance

Mendelian autosomal inheritance involves genes located on non-sex chromosomes (autosomes) that follow predictable patterns of dominant and recessive allele segregation. Traits inherited this way show characteristic ratios in offspring, such as 3:1 in monohybrid crosses, and involve biparental inheritance of alleles.
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Autosomal Pedigrees

Genetic Criteria Distinguishing Inheritance Patterns

Key criteria distinguishing extranuclear from Mendelian autosomal inheritance include the mode of transmission (maternal vs. biparental), segregation patterns (non-Mendelian vs. Mendelian ratios), and the genetic location (organelle DNA vs. nuclear DNA). Recognizing these differences helps identify the inheritance mechanism of a trait.
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Diploid Genetics
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Five human matings (1–5), identified by both maternal and paternal phenotypes for ABO and MN blood-group antigen status, are shown on the left side of the following table:

Each mating resulted in one of the five offspring shown in the right-hand column (a–e). Match each offspring with one correct set of parents, using each parental set only once. Is there more than one set of correct answers?

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Textbook Question

Two mothers give birth to sons at the same time at a busy urban hospital. The son of mother 1 is afflicted with hemophilia, a disease caused by an X-linked recessive allele. Neither parent has the disease. Mother 2 has a normal son, despite the fact that the father has hemophilia. Several years later, couple 1 sues the hospital, claiming that these two newborns were swapped in the nursery following their birth. As a genetic counselor, you are called to testify. What information can you provide the jury concerning the allegation?

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Textbook Question

In Dexter and Kerry cattle, animals may be polled (hornless) or horned. The Dexter animals have short legs, whereas the Kerry animals have long legs. When many offspring were obtained from matings between polled Kerrys and horned Dexters, half were found to be polled Dexters and half polled Kerrys. When these two types of F₁ cattle were mated to one another, the following F₂ data were obtained:

3/8 polled Dexters

3/8 polled Kerrys

1/8 horned Dexters

1/8 horned Kerrys

A geneticist was puzzled by these data and interviewed farmers who had bred these cattle for decades. She learned that Kerrys were true breeding. Dexters, on the other hand, were not true breeding and never produced as many offspring as Kerrys. Provide a genetic explanation for these observations.

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