Study the pedigree chart of a certain family given below and select the correct conclusion which can be drawn for the character – [figure]
- The trait under study could not be colourblindness
- The female parent is heterozygous
- The parents could not have had a normal daughter for this character
- The male parent is homozygous dominant
Answer
(2) The female parent is heterozygous
Solution
Both parents are affected, but one son is normal.
⇒ Two affected parents have produced an unaffected child, so the trait is dominant and the normal son carries two recessive alleles (aa).
∴ Each parent must have given one recessive allele, i.e., both parents are heterozygous (Aa). Hence the female parent is heterozygous.
∵ A homozygous dominant (AA) male parent would give only affected children, option (4) is wrong.
∵ Aa × Aa gives 1/4 normal (aa) children of either sex, a normal daughter is also possible, so option (3) is wrong.
Answer: (2)