GENETICS PROBLEMS - Human Blood Types
BIOL 1406
 
In humans, the ABO blood group is inherited by a single gene (I) with three alleles.  The alleles are Ia, Ib, and i.  These alleles produce the blood groups A, B, AB, and O.
 
The Rh factor of blood is inherited by a separate gene with two alleles.  The dominant allele (D) produces Rh positive blood and the recessive allele (d) produces Rh negative blood.
 
1. Bob has type A blood and his mother had type O blood.  What is the genotype of Bob and his mother?

 

Bob = Iai

Bob's Mother = ii

 

 

 

2. If Bob (same as in #1) marries Mary who has type O blood, what blood types are possible for their children?

 

Bob = Iai

Mary = ii 

 

 

  Ia i
i

Iai

ii

i

Iai

ii

 

3. If Bob ( from #1) had married Greta who has type AB blood, what blood types would have been possible in their children?

 

Bob = Iai

Greta = IaIb

A, AB, and B possible in children

 

 

  Ia i
Ia

IaIa

Iai

Ib IaIb Ibi
 

4. Paula has type B negative blood.  Her mother has type O positive blood and her father has type AB positive blood.  What is the genotype of each individual?

 

Paula = Ibi dd

Paula's Mother = ii Dd

Paula's Father = IaIb Dd

 

 

 

5. Dick has type AB negative blood and he marries Jane who has type B positive blood.  Jane's father has type O negative blood.  What blood types are possible in their children and the percent chance of each occurring?

 

Dick = IaIb dd

Jane = Ibi Dd

 

AB positive = 1 = 12.5%

B positive  = 2 = 25%

AB negative = 1 = 12.5%

B negative  = 2 = 25%

A positive  = 1 = 12.5%

A negative  = 1 = 12.5%

 

 

  Ia d Ib d
Ib D IaIb Dd IbIb Dd
Ib d IbIa dd IbIb dd
i D Iai Dd Ibi Dd
i d Iai dd Ibi dd

 

 

 

6. A woman with type A positive blood is married to a man with type B positive blood.  If they have a child with type O negative blood, what is the genotype of each individual?

 

Woman = Iai Dd

Man = Ibi Dd

Child = ii dd

 

 

 

7. Sarah has type A positive blood and one of her parents had type O negative.  She marries Bill who has type B negative blood.  One of Bill's parents had type O positive blood.  What are the blood types possible in their children and the percent chance of each occurring?

 

Sarah = Iai Dd

Sarah's Parent = iidd

Bill = Ibi dd

Bill's Parent = ii D_

 

 

AB positive = 1 = 12.5%

A positive  = 1 = 12.5%

AB negative = 1 = 12.5%

A negative  = 1 = 12.5%

B positive  = 1 = 12.5

B negative  = 1 = 12.5%

O positive  = 1 = 12.5%

O negative  = 1 = 12.5%

 

 

 

Ib d

i d

Ia D

IaIb Dd Iai Dd
Ia d IaIb dd Iai dd
i D

Ibi Dd

ii Dd
i d Ibi dd ii dd

 

 

 

8. A woman with type B positive blood gives birth to a baby with type O negative blood.  She claims the father is a man with type A negative blood.  Based on the blood type information, could he be the father?  Why or why not?

 

Woman = Ibi D_

Man = Ia_dd

Baby = iidd

 

 

Yes he could be the father.  If woman is heterozygous for type B and Rh positive and the man is heterozygous (Iai) for type B blood.  They can produce a child with type O negative blood.

 

 

 

9. A woman with type A negative blood gives birth to a baby with type AB positive blood.  Could the father be a man with type O negative blood?

 

Woman = Ia_ dd

Father = ii dd

Baby = IaIb Dd

 

 

No he could not be the father.  The father has to be someone who can contribute the Ib gene for the baby's blood to be AB.

 

 

 

10. Parents with blood types B positive and A negative bring home a baby that has type O positive blood.  They are convinced that the baby was switched at the hospital.  Based on the blood type information of the three individuals, could this baby be theirs?  How could it be conclusively proven that this is their child?

 

Father = Ib_ D_

Mother = Ia_ dd

Baby = ii Dd

 

 

Yes this baby could be theirs, if the parents are both heterozygous (Ibi and Iai) for the ABO gene.

Can be proven using DNA testing.