multiple alleles – blood type / group

Question 1

How many blood types are there in humans?

Answer 1

Four blood types: A, B, AB, and O.

Question 2

How many alleles control blood type?

Answer 2

Three alleles: Iₐ, Iᵦ, and i.

Question 3

What is the relationship between the blood type alleles?

Answer 3

Iₐ and Iᵦ are co-dominant, while i is recessive to both Iₐ and Iᵦ.

Question 4

What are the genotypes for the four blood types?

Answer 4

Blood type A: IₐIₐ or Iₐi
Blood type B: IᵦIᵦ or Iᵦi
Blood type AB: IₐIᵦ
Blood type O: ii

Question 5

How can blood groups be used in paternity testing?

Answer 5

If the blood groups of the mother, possible father, and child do not match, the man is not the father. If they match, further testing is needed, as other men might have the same blood type. DNA profiling is more reliable for confirming paternity.

Question 6

What is the purpose of DNA profiling in paternity testing?

Answer 6

DNA profiling examines the similarities in the DNA of the father and child. If 50% of the DNA bands match, it indicates that the man is the father.

Question 7

Can a man and a woman both with blood group B have a child with blood group O?

Answer 7

Yes, if both parents have the genotype Iᵦi, they can have a child with the genotype ii (blood group O).