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Consider a pedigree tracking attached earlobes. Attached earlobes is an autosomal recessive trait (ee) while free earlobes is a dominant trait (e). Which of the following would be illustrated as a shaded circle?

1) A person with attached earlobes
2) A person with free earlobes
3) A person with both attached and free earlobes
4) A person with unknown earlobe type

User Seho Lee
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In a pedigree, a shaded circle would illustrate a person with attached earlobes, which are an autosomal recessive trait represented by 'ee'.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a pedigree tracking earlobe attachment, shaded symbols are used to show individuals who express a recessive trait. In this case, attached earlobes are the recessive trait which is represented by the genotype 'ee'. Therefore, a shaded circle in the pedigree will illustrate a person with attached earlobes. A person with free earlobes, which is the dominant trait, would not be shaded in a pedigree. It is impossible for a person to have both attached and free earlobes, as earlobe type is determined by a single gene, and the free-hanging earlobe trait (E) is dominant over the attached earlobe trait (e). A pedigree symbol for a person with an unknown earlobe type would be unshaded and typically marked with a question mark inside the symbol.

User Medulla Oblongata
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