February 10, 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?
How would you set up the Punnet square?
I think the square is set up like this
M L
M MM LM
L LM LL
Filed under Homework Help by Peter
Comments on Two MLM cats mate. What is the probability that any one of their surviving kittens will be heterozygous? »
So MLM x MLM, your possible outcomes are:
1 MLML - Die before birth
2 MLM - Manx
or 1 MM - Normal
Since MLML dies before birth, you change the ratio to 2/3 MLM and 1/3 Normal, therefore 2 out of every 3 *surviving* kittens will be heterozygotes, and 1 will be normal.