MODES OF INHERITANCE

 Autosomal Dominant Traits

- If dominant allele is present on the autosome, then the individual will express the trait.
- Every affected person has an affected parent
- Heterozygotes and homozygous dominant individuals are affected
- Equal number of males and females
- Trait is found in every generation
- Affected individuals transmit the trait to ~1/2 of their children (regardless of sex)
 Autosomal Recessive Traits
- In order to express the trait, two recessive alleles must be present.
- Most affected persons have parents who are not themselves affected; the parents are
heterozygous for the recessive allele and are called carriers
- Approximately 1/4 of the children of carriers are affected
- Trait often skips generations (hidden in heterozygous carriers)
- Trait affects males and females equally
 X-linked recessive
- Trait is rare in pedigree
- Trait skips generations
- Affected fathers DO NOT pass to their sons,
- Males are more often affected than females
- Females are carriers (passed from mom to son)
 X-linked dominant
- Trait is common in pedigree
- Affected fathers pass to ALL of their daughters
- Males and females are equally likely to be affected
 Y-Linked Inheritance
- Traits on the Y chromosome are only found in males, never in females.
- The father’s traits are passed to all sons.
- Dominance is irrelevant: there is only 1 copy of each Y-linked gene (hemizygous).