A Punnett is a means to determine the genetic inheritance ofoffspring if the genotypes of both parents are known. Using Punnettsquares answer the questions about the following scenarios. Inorder to properly answer some of the questions more than 1 Punnettsquare might be needed. With every Punnett square provide a key foryour alleles.
- The condition of sickle cell anemia isrecessive and only the homozygous recessiveindividuals are adversely affected. Interestingly, heterozygousindividuals have increased resistance to Malaria which is caused bya Plasmodium parasite that infects red blood cells. Aheterozygous individual has red blood cells that are minimallyaffected but are altered enough so that Plasmodium cannotinfect the cells. This is one reason why this allele persists inthe population – in the heterozygous state it gives the individualan advantage for survival in some environments.
Veronica, who has the sickle cellcondition, and Mason who does not have the condition have a child.They are worried about the having a child with sickle cell anemiaand malaria because they are moving to a part of Africa where thePlasmodium is common. Who in this family should be worriedabout sickle cell anemia and contracting malaria?
