If a male is colorblind (which is an X-linked recessive trait), what percentage of his sons will be colorblind? What percentage of his daughters will be colorblind?
To determine the percentage of offspring that will be colorblind, we first need to understand how X-linked recessive traits are passed on.
In humans, the X and Y chromosomes determine an individual's sex. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). Colorblindness is typically caused by a recessive gene located on the X chromosome.
When a male, who is colorblind, has biological children, he can only pass on his Y chromosome to his sons because they inherit the X chromosome from their mother. As a result, none of his sons will inherit the colorblindness trait since they receive a normal X chromosome from their mother.
On the other hand, his daughters will inherit one of his colorblind X chromosomes. Since the colorblindness trait is recessive, they will only be colorblind if they receive a colorblind X chromosome from their father and another colorblind X chromosome from their mother.
Now, let's calculate the possibilities:
Sons: 0% will be colorblind.
Daughters: 50% will be carriers (heterozygous for colorblindness) and 50% will be non-carriers (homozygous normal).
Therefore, none of his sons will be colorblind, and his daughters have a 50% chance of being carriers for colorblindness.