Patterns of Heredity

 How do you find out the chances of

passing a trait to your children?
 Answer  Pedigree
A family history that shows how a trait is
inherited over several generations.
 Particularly helpful in finding carriers for
genetic disorders.
 Carriers are Heterozygous
 They don’t show symptoms of the disorder
they are carrying.
 Can pass trait to offspring.
 Ex. Albinism (Disorder that does not produce
melanin; no skin color)
 Remember Autosomes?
 Inherited traits can be either Autosomal or
Sex-linked.
 Autosomal Traits – appear in both males
and females.
 Sex-linked traits only appear on the X-
chromosome of an individual.
** Males only have 1 chromosome; if they
have the recessive allele, they will display
the trait.
** Females have 2 chromosomes; they will
only display the trait if they have both
recessive alleles.
Color-Blindness
 Traits can be Autosomal Dominant or
Autosomal Recessive.
 If Dominant, the child will have a parent
with the trait
 If Recessive…then one, both, or none of
the parents will exhibit the trait.
 Genetic Disorders
 Genetic disorders are caused by
mutations, which are caused by damaged
or faulty proteins.
 Many disorders are caused by recessive
alleles in heterozygous individuals.
 Sickle Cell Anemia
A condition caused by a mutated allele
that produces a defective form of the
protein hemoglobin (in red blood cells).
 Cannot easily transport Oxygen through
the body.
Sickle Cell Anemia Pedigree
 Hemophilia
 Sex-linked disorder that impairs blood’s
ability to form clots.
 If a male receives the recessive allele, he
will have Hemophilia.