Question

Difficulty: MediumGenetics and Heredity

Two biological parents who both have type AB blood can produce a biological child with type O blood.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False
The statement is false because expressing type O blood requires the homozygous recessive genotype (iiii). Parents with type AB blood have the genotype IAIBI^A I^B, which contains only the codominant IAI^A and IBI^B alleles. Because neither parent carries the recessive ii allele, they cannot produce a child with type O blood.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the genotypes of the parents from their blood phenotypes.
Both parents have the genotype IAIBI^A I^B.
The ABO blood group system exhibits codominance, meaning a person with type AB blood must have one IAI^A allele and one IBI^B allele.
2
Determine the possible allele combinations that the offspring can inherit.
The possible offspring genotypes are IAIAI^A I^A (type A), IAIBI^A I^B (type AB), and IBIBI^B I^B (type B).
Each parent can contribute either an IAI^A or an IBI^B allele during gamete formation.
3
Evaluate whether the genotype for type O blood can be produced.
A child cannot have type O blood.
Type O blood is homozygous recessive (iiii), requiring an ii allele from each parent, which neither type AB parent possesses.

Key Concept

Codominance and Multiple Allele Inheritance in ABO Blood Groups
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question