The diagram shows the inheritance of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in three generations of a family - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 8 - 2017
Question 8
The diagram shows the inheritance of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in three generations of a family.
FH is caused by an autosomal dominant allele.
How many i... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows the inheritance of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in three generations of a family - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 8 - 2017
Step 1
Identify the condition and its inheritance
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Answer
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that an individual only needs one copy of the dominant allele to express the condition.
Step 2
Analyze the family tree
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Answer
Examine the pedigree chart provided. Affected individuals (colored shapes) represent those showing symptoms of FH, while unaffected individuals (clear shapes) do not.
Step 3
Assess homozygosity
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Answer
In this pedigree, individuals who are affected can either be homozygous dominant (AA) or heterozygous (Aa). Homozygous dominant individuals will pass the dominant allele on to all their offspring, while heterozygous individuals can have unaffected offspring.
By scrutinizing the pedigree, it's noted that many affected individuals have unaffected children, suggesting they are likely heterozygous.
Step 4
Conclusion on homozygous dominant individuals
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Answer
After evaluating the inheritance pattern in the family tree, it can be concluded that there is one individual who is likely homozygous dominant for FH. Therefore, the answer is 1.
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