Problem 6 Suppose a maternal effect gene e... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 5: Problem 6

Suppose a maternal effect gene exists as a functional dominant allele and a nonfunctional recessive allele. A mother who is phenotypically abnormal produces all normal offspring. Explain the genotype of the mother.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The mother's genotype is heterozygous, denoted as \(Aa\), where 'A' represents the functional dominant allele and 'a' the nonfunctional recessive allele.

Step by step solution

Understand the Problem

Initially, it is important to comprehend the significance of maternal effect genes. These genes are inherited from both parents, but their effect is determined by the mother's genotype only. This is because these are the genes that the mother deposits into the egg cell that will later fuse with the sperm. If the mother has a dominant maternal effect gene (functional), she will produce normal offspring, regardless of her mate's genotype.

Analyze the Given Scenario

In the exercise, it is stated that the mother is phenotypically abnormal but her offspring are normal. Since the phenotype of maternal effect genes in offspring depend on the genotype of the mother, the presence of normal offspring indicates that the mother possesses the functional dominant allele.

Formulate the Mother's Genotype

The abnormal phenotype of the mother suggests that she has at least one nonfunctional recessive allele. However, as her offspring are normal, she must also carry the functional dominant allele. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that the mother's genotype is heterozygous, i.e. she carries both the functional dominant allele and the nonfunctional recessive allele. Therefore, if we denote the functional dominant allele as 'A' and the nonfunctional recessive allele as 'a', the mother's genotype will be \(Aa\).

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91影视

Suppose a maternal effect gene exists as a functional dominant allele and a nonfunctional recessive allele. A mother who is phenotypically abnormal produces all normal offspring. Explain the genotype of the mother.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the Problem

Analyze the Given Scenario

Formulate the Mother's Genotype

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