Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Help!

Hello Everyone,

I am having trouble figuring out number 3 on the genetic problems. I have half of the information completed but what about determining the gender of the children? I know this is probably super easy, and I am just missing it. But any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

2 comments:

  1. I'm really not sure about that, I also don't know how to determine the gender of the children. I wish I could be of some help to you. Sorry!

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  2. I was thinking that the probability of getting a boy or a girl is 1/2, when you do the Punnent square for xx and xy you get 2 xx and 2 xy.

    Then if you do the Punnent square for for tasters (T) and non-tasters (t) you get TT, Tt, Tt, & tt. The probability of getting a non-taster is 1/4. Then I think that you multiply the results together: 1/2 * 1/4 = 1/8. The probability of getting a girl or boy non-taster would be the same, 1/8.

    I am not sure though if she wants us to do the probability based on the picture of the family next to the problem where there are 2 boys and 1 girl. If this is the case then for the boys it would be 2/3 * 1/4 = 2/12, which reduces to 1/6. (I got 2/3 because 2 out of the 3 kids are boys & 1/4 is the probability of a non-taster). For the girl it would be 1/3 * 1/4 = 1/12.

    I'm not sure if this is right, what do you think?

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