Question

with regard to abo blood types in humans, determine the genotype of the male and female parent shown below. male parent: blood type a whose mother was type o female parent: blood type a whose father was type o

Explanation:

Step1: Recall ABO blood type genetics

In ABO blood typing, the alleles are \( I^A \), \( I^B \), and \( i \) (where \( i \) is recessive). Blood type O has genotype \( ii \), blood type A can be \( I^AI^A \) or \( I^Ai \), blood type B can be \( I^BI^B \) or \( I^Bi \), and blood type AB is \( I^AI^B \).

Step2: Analyze male parent

Male has blood type A. His mother was type O (genotype \( ii \)). So the mother must have passed an \( i \) allele to him. Since he is type A, his genotype must be \( I^Ai \) (because he got \( i \) from mother, and to be type A, the other allele is \( I^A \)).

Step3: Analyze female parent

Female has blood type A. Her father was type O (genotype \( ii \)). So the father must have passed an \( i \) allele to her. Since she is type A, her genotype must be \( I^Ai \) (because she got \( i \) from father, and to be type A, the other allele is \( I^A \)).

Answer:

Male parent genotype: \( I^Ai \)
Female parent genotype: \( I^Ai \)