Q.

4 -‘I’
To study the prepared pedigree charts of genetic traits such as
rolling of tongue, widow’s peak, blood group and colour blindness.
FOR INABILITY TO ROLL THE TONGUE

1 2

II 1 2 3 4

III
1 2 3 4 5

Aa aa

Aa aa aa Aa AA Aa

Aa aa AA Aa AA

COMMENTS on the pedigree chart with respect to:

1. Inheritance of traits-
It is a dominant autosomal inheritance. Person having ability to roll the tongue is may be
homozygous (AA) or heterozygous (Aa) dominant. Non-roller is recessive (aa)
2. Number of normal, carriers and affected progeny-
Normal or Rollers (AA)-3, Carriers (Aa)- 6, Affected or non-rollers (aa)-4
3. Linkage- sex linked or autosomal
Autosomal (autosome linked inheritance),
SOLUTION
Comment on the given pedigree chart with respect to :
1. Inheritance of trait- Dominant autosomal trait. i.e. person showing widow’s peak is either
homozygous (WW) or heterozygous (Ww). While person with straight hairline is recessive (ww)
2. Number of traits- Normal i.e. Widow’s peak ( WW) = 1
Carrier (Ww)= 5

Straight hair line = 6

3. Linkage- Autosomal i.e. gene for widow’s peak is located on autosome.

HUMAN BLOOD GROUPS

I
AB 1 2 A O 3 4B
II
B 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 B 5 O 6 O 7

III
O 1 AB 2

SOLUTION: I

IAIB IAi ii IBi

II IBi IAIA IAi IAi IBi ii ii

III ii IAIB

COMMENTS on the pedigree chart and give the genotypes of the blood groups of individuals
marked in blank box numbers-

Generation Phenotype Genotype

& Box no
I-2 Blood group A IAi
I-4 Blood group B IBi
II-4 Blood group A IAi
II-5 Blood group B IBi
III-1 Blood group O ii
III-2 Blood group AB IAIB
This is an example of autosomal inheritance. It shows co-dominance as blood group AB is due to the genotype
IAIB. Both these alleles are equally dominant; therefore, both are expressed. Hence such person’s RBCs have
both the types of antigens viz. Antigen A and Antigen B.
 COLORBLINDNESS
I

1 2
II

1 2 3 4 5 6

III
1 2 3 4 5

I X cY XCXC

II XCXc XCY XCXc XCY XCXc XCY

III XCXC XCXc XcY XCXC XCY

This is a pedigree chart of colorblindness.

COMMENTS on the pedigree chart with respect to:
1. Inheritance of trait-
It is an X-linked recessive trait. Even if there is only one Xc, the male ( XcY) is colorblind. But the
colorblind female has genotype XcXc.
Generally, the males are sufferers of the X-linked traits because of the presence of only one X-
chromosome and the Y-chromosome has no allele of the concerned gene.
Carrier man does not exist although carrier woman may exist.

2. Number of normal, carriers and affected progeny- Normal ♂-

4 ; Normal ♀-3
Carrier ♀ - 4
Colorblind ♂- 2 ; Colorblind ♀- nil
3. Linkage- sex linked or autosomal-
It shows sex-linked inheritance. It is due to the recessive X-linked gene (Xc).
 Questions
1. What is pedigree?
Ans: Pedigree charts are diagrams that show the phenotypes and/or genotypes for a particular organism and
its ancestors. While commonly used in human families to track genetic diseases, they can be used for
any species and any inherited trait. These diagrams are used to determine the mode of inheritance of a
particular disease or trait, and to predict the probability of its appearance among offspring. It appears
like a family tree.

2. Why X-linked disorders are more common in male than in female?

Ans: In female two X chromosomes are present if out of two X chromosomes one is recessive, female is
just carrier for that trait. But in male has only one X-chromosome. If such a chromosome has the
recessive gene, the male definitely suffers from the disorder. Because on Y chromosome allele or
that trait is absent.
So in female if both the X-chromosomes have the defective (recessive) genes, then only she
suffers. Such a possibility is rare.

3. What are holandric traits?

Ans: The traits which are controlled by genes located on Y chromosome are called holandric traits. The
genes responsible for such characters are found only on the non-homologous portions of Y-
chromosome. therefore, it has no allele on X-chromosome.
e.g. Hypertrichosis or hairy pinna is found in male human beings only.

4. Give an example of autosomal recessive disorder in humans.

Ans: Sickle cell anemia, Phenyl Ketonuria, Cystic fibrosis, Thalassemia, etc.

5. Explain the concept of co-dominance with respect to ABO system in humans. Ans: The ABO
blood grouping system is controlled by 3 alleles viz. IA, IB andi.
Of these, the allele i is recessive to both IA and IB.
If both IA and IB are present in an individual, then both the Antigens i.e. Antigen A and Antigen B
are formed and present on the RBCs.
It means that IA and IB are co-dominant. The genotype
IAIB indicates Blood group AB.