Classic hemophilia is transmitted as a recessive X-linked trait. What is the probability
Classic hemophilia is transmitted as a recessive X-linked trait. What is the probability of having a sick child from a marriage of a healthy woman with a man suffering from hemophilia?
Let’s designate the chromosome containing the gene that causes the development of hemophilia as Xg, then the chromosome with the gene that determines the well-being in relation to this disease will be XG.
A man with hemophilia has the Xg Y genotype. They produce two types of spermatozoa – Xg and Y. To their daughters, they transmit a chromosome containing a pathological gene – Xg, to sons – a hemophilia-neutral Y chromosome.
A healthy woman can be both homo- and heterozygous. Let’s consider both options.
1. A healthy woman with a genotype homozygous for the gene for normal blood coagulation – XGXG. It produces the same type of XG eggs.
The offspring of a married couple of a hemophilic man and such a woman will be represented by the following options:
heterozygote girls who are carriers of the pathological gene (XGXg) – 50%;
healthy boys (XG Y) – 50%.
The probability of having a sick child is 0%.
2. A healthy woman with a heterozygous genotype – XGXg. It produces two types of eggs – XG and Xg.
The offspring of a married couple of a hemophilic man and a heterozygous woman will include options:
girls with hemophilia (XgXg) – 25%;
heterozygote girls who are carriers of the pathological gene (XGXg) – 25%;
healthy boys (XG Y) – 25%;
boys with hemophilia (Xg Y) – 25%.
In this case, the probability of having a sick child is 50%.