NEETZoologyPrinciples of Inheritance and Variation
A phenotypically normal couple has a son affected by a genetic disorder. The mother's father was also affected by the same disorder, while the husband's family has no history of it. Which of the following Mendelian disorders is most likely to exhibit this pattern of inheritance?
Options
- APhenylketonuria
- BMyotonic dystrophy
- CHaemophilia
- DSickle-cell anaemia
Correct answer
C. Haemophilia
Step-by-step solution
The inheritance pattern described is characteristic of an X-linked recessive trait, often referred to as criss-cross inheritance. The mother is phenotypically normal but inherited the defective X chromosome from her affected father, making her a carrier. She passes this defective X chromosome to her son, who expresses the disorder because males have only one X chromosome. The husband's family history is irrelevant for an X-linked recessive trait in a son, as the son inherits his Y chromosome from his father. Among