A child with the genes for PKU (a recessive disorder that leads to brain damage because proteins aren't digested properly) is raised to adulthood under a strict low-protein diet that prevents the gene from being activated. He lives a normal life and eventually becomes a father. As a genetic counselor, explain whether the fact that his gene is inactive affects the probability his future children might inherit the PKU allele. Be complete. Explain the reasoning you used to reach your conclusion.

Question

Biology

Hannah Singh

14 May, 04:45

A child with the genes for PKU (a recessive disorder that leads to brain damage because proteins aren't digested properly) is raised to adulthood under a strict low-protein diet that prevents the gene from being activated. He lives a normal life and eventually becomes a father. As a genetic counselor, explain whether the fact that his gene is inactive affects the probability his future children might inherit the PKU allele. Be complete. Explain the reasoning you used to reach your conclusion.

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Answers (1)

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Nikhil Johnston · Answer 1

Even if the gene is inactive, you can inherit the gene from your children.

Explanation:

Genetic inheritance is determined by the patterns that are dominant or recessive, not with the activation or not of the gene that you already possess, so depending on whether your partner is a carrier of the gene, there will be a greater probability of inheriting it from your children, even if your partner is a non-carrier of the gene none of the descendants inherits the condition, but they are all carriers, if their partner is a carrier but does not affect it, there is a 50% probability that one descendant is affected, and the rest are carriers but not inherited the condition, if their partner is a carrier, there is a 25% probability that a descendant is affected, a 50% probability that they are carriers but without manifesting the condition, and a 25% probability of not having any recessive allele.