Select the incorrect statement from the following:
- Baldness is a sex limited trait
- Galactosemia is an inborn error of metabolism
- Linkage is an exception to the principle of independent assortment in heredity
- Small population size results in random genetic drift in a population
Answer
(1) Baldness is a sex limited trait
Solution
(1) Pattern baldness is a sex-influenced trait (autosomal; dominant in males, recessive in females) — it appears in both sexes, so it is not sex-limited. ⇒ Incorrect.
(2) Galactosemia is an inborn error of metabolism (deficiency of the enzyme that converts galactose to glucose). ⇒ Correct.
(3) Linked genes on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together, so linkage is an exception to independent assortment. ⇒ Correct.
(4) As per NCERT, chance changes in allele frequency (genetic drift) are significant in small populations. ⇒ Correct.
Answer: (1)