Which is the most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits?(1 point) Responses A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation. A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person. A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person. The trait is recessive, and the child inherited a recessive allele from each parent

Question

Which is the most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits?(1 point) Responses A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation. A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person. A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person. The trait is recessive, and the child inherited a recessive allele from each parent

Answer 1

A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation.

Answer 2

The most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits is that the parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele.

Answer 3

The most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits is that the parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. This is because dominant alleles can mask the presence of recessive alleles. To understand this concept, we need to have a basic understanding of Mendelian genetics.

During reproduction, parents pass on their genetic material to their offspring in the form of chromosomes. Each person has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent, which are located on corresponding positions called loci on each chromosome. These alternative forms of a gene are called alleles.

In some cases, a trait is determined by a dominant allele, meaning that only one copy of the allele is sufficient to express the trait. On the other hand, a recessive allele requires two copies to be present in order for the trait to be expressed. The presence of a dominant allele can mask the expression of a recessive allele.

So, if both parents have recessive alleles for a specific trait, they may not exhibit the trait themselves because it is masked by the presence of dominant alleles. However, they can still pass on these recessive alleles to their child. If the child inherits one recessive allele from each parent and no dominant allele, then the recessive trait can be expressed in the child, even though neither parent exhibits the trait.

Therefore, the most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits is that the parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele.