3. 1. Inheritance and Human
Variation
The
characteristics
of the
individuals
depend on two
factors:
Genetic traits
Genotype
Inherited
Environmental
factors (food,
lifestyle habits…)
Phenotype
Usually not
transmissible
4. Types of traits
Quantitative
Skin colour
Eyes colour (they
have a range of
possible
expressions)
Qualitative Examples of quantitative traits: skin and eyes colour
5. Qualitative traits in human
beings
Dominant
allele
Recessive
allele
Curly hair Straight hair
Ability to roll
the tongue
Inability to roll
the tongue
Thick lips Thin lips
Long eyelash Short eyelash
Detached
earlobes
Attached
earlobes
Blood group A
and B
Blood group 0
Blood group
Rh+
Blood group
Rh-
Straight and curly hair
6. The ABO system establishes four blood groups (A, B, AB and O) according
to the presence or absence of certain proteins, called A and B, in the
membrane of the red blood cells.
Antibodies react against specific antigens destroying them.
7. Phenotypes Group A Group B Group AB Group 0
Genotypes AA BB AB 00
A0 B0
Alleles A and B are codominant.
Alleles A and B are dominant over allele 0, whichis recessive
8. Rh System
Rhesus factor is another antigen which can be present (Rh+) or not (Rh-) in
the red blood cells.
Rh+ is dominant
Rh- is recessiv
Blood typing virtual lab:
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/bloodtypinggame/gamev2/index.html
Page 109 activity 3, 4, 5, 9
Phenotypes Rh+ Rh-
Genotypes Rh+Rh+ Rh-Rh-
Rh+Rh-
Erytroblastosis fetalis: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/rh-blood-
group-rh-factor-erythoblasotis-fetalis.html
AB- group
Test tubes containing the corresponding antigen
9. A double homozigous 0+ woman decides to have a baby with a A- man, whose father was 0-.
What is the probability to obtain an A- baby?
00Rh+Rh+ x A0Rh-Rh-
From the father
ARh- 0Rh-
0Rh+ A0Rh+Rh- 00Rh+Rh-
Sol.: 0% (none of the babies will be Rh negative)
10. 2. Diagnosis of Genetic Diseases
Amniocentesis
Foetus cells from the amniotic fluid are extracted with a needle. The DNA is
analysed and possible chromosom or metabolic disorders are detected