Final answer:
Children of parents with genotype AO (father with blood type A) and ii (mother with blood type O) can have either genotype AO (blood type A) or ii (blood type O). The outcome exhibits the principles of codominance and multiple alleles in the ABO blood group system. The mother with type O blood can safely donate blood to the father with type A blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Potential Genotypes and Phenotypes of Offspring
If a father has type A blood with the genotype AO and a mother has type O blood with the genotype ii, the potential genotypes for their offspring are either AO or ii. The child will either have a phenotype of blood type A or blood type O, respectively. The mother's genotype of ii means she carries two copies of the recessive allele, and thus, any allele she passes on to her offspring will be i. Since the father is AO, there is an equal chance that the offspring will inherit either the A or the O allele from him.
So, the possible genotypes of the offspring are:
AO (which expresses as blood type A)ii (which expresses as blood type O)
Blood types demonstrate codominance and multiple alleles in human genetics. Codominance occurs when both alleles in a heterozygous individual fully express themselves, as seen with IAIB individuals showing both A and B antigens on red blood cells resulting in AB blood type. However, in the given scenario, since there is no presence of the IB allele from a B type parent, the AB blood type is not achievable for these particular offspring. The ABO blood types thus are an example of multiple alleles (IA, IB, and i) interacting, where IA and IB are dominant over i.
As for whether a woman with blood type O can donate blood to her husband with blood type A, the answer is yes. She is considered a universal donor since the O blood type lacks A or B antigens on the red blood cells, preventing the activation of an immune response in the recipient.