Is the Disease in the Pedigree Diagram Inherited in an X-Linked Dominant Manner?

  • Context: Biology 
  • Thread starter Thread starter nokia8650
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Diagram Genetics
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the inheritance pattern of a disease depicted in a pedigree diagram, specifically whether it is inherited in an X-linked dominant manner. Participants explore various genetic models and interpretations based on the observed transmission of the disease among males and females.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant interprets the pedigree diagram to suggest that only females transmit the disease, leading to the hypothesis of X-linked inheritance.
  • The same participant notes that all offspring of affected females are also affected, supporting the idea of a dominant trait.
  • However, the participant questions this model because affected males do not pass the condition to their female offspring, which challenges the X-linked dominant hypothesis.
  • Another participant acknowledges this challenge as a significant objection and suggests considering alternative inheritance patterns.
  • A further reply encourages exploring other genetic models, such as X-linked recessive and autosomal dominant and recessive, to determine the consistency of each hypothesis with the observed data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as there are multiple competing views regarding the inheritance pattern of the disease. The discussion remains unresolved with various hypotheses being considered.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of genetic inheritance and the need for careful consideration of the pedigree data. Limitations include the potential for multiple interpretations based on the same evidence and the necessity of defining the genetic constitution of progenitors.

nokia8650
Messages
216
Reaction score
0
I was struggling with interpreting the following pedigree diagram:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/715/photoon20100411at2211.jpg

I can see from the diagram that only females seem to be capable of transmitting the disease - not males - this lead me to believe it is X-linked. In addition, I noted that EVERY offspring of an affected female is also affected; leading me to believe it is dominant. This lead to me thinking the condition was inherited in an x-linked dominant manner. However, this would not explain why affected males (who would in my model have the dominant disorder on their X chromosome) do not pass on the condition to their female offspring.

Any help is greatly appreciated.. thanks!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
nokia8650 said:
However, this would not explain why affected males (who would in my model have the dominant disorder on their X chromosome) do not pass on the condition to their female offspring.

That appears a conclusive objection!
So you have to consider other possibilities.
 
thanks for the reply! I can't really think of anything... would it be possible for you to nudge me in the right direction? Thanks
 
Just go through X-linked recessive, autosomal dominant and recessive, start with the possible original progenitors' constitution (e.g. original mother must be AA if it is recessive whereas...) write down then the possibilities for F1 etc. and see for each whether there is anything that happens that would be impossible with each starting hypothesis. You cannot offhand predict whether the possibilities are unique or more than one hypothesis is consistent, perhaps someone practiced could see it immediately, not me either.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
15K
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K