February 12, 2009
Two MLM cats mate. What is the probability that any one of their surviving kittens will be heterozygous?
Lucy asked:
Certain alleles are vitall for normal development. When mutated, they are lethal in homozygous recessives. Even so, heterozygotes can perptuate these recessive, lethal allethes in a population. The allele Manx (ML) in case is an example. Homozygous cats (MLML) die before birth. In heterozygotes (MLM), the spine develops abnormally, and the cats end up with no tail.
Certain alleles are vitall for normal development. When mutated, they are lethal in homozygous recessives. Even so, heterozygotes can perptuate these recessive, lethal allethes in a population. The allele Manx (ML) in case is an example. Homozygous cats (MLML) die before birth. In heterozygotes (MLM), the spine develops abnormally, and the cats end up with no tail.
Two MLM cats mate. What is the probability that any one of their surviving kittens will be heterozygous?
Filed under Biology by Peter
Comments on Two MLM cats mate. What is the probability that any one of their surviving kittens will be heterozygous? »
Um, Punnet square on this one
ML M
ML MLML MLM
M MLM MM
So that’s 25% death before birth, 50% manx and 25% normal development. 50% will be heterozygotes assuming this is not sex-linked or incomplete penetrance.