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Are color-blind carriers partially colorblind?

User Obayhan
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Final answer:

Female carriers of the X-linked recessive trait for red-green colorblindness typically have normal color vision, as the normal allele on the second X chromosome masks the recessive allele. They can, however, pass the allele to their offspring, which may lead to colorblind sons or carrier daughters.

Step-by-step explanation:

Carriers of red-green colorblindness are typically not colorblind themselves. Colorblindness is a genetic trait, specifically an X-linked recessive disorder. Females have two X chromosomes; if one carries the colorblind gene and the other has the normal vision gene, the dominant normal vision gene will mask the recessive colorblind gene, allowing for normal color vision. These females are simply carriers of the trait. This is why significantly fewer women are colorblind compared to men. Males, having only one X chromosome, if it carries the colorblind gene, will express the condition because they do not have a second X chromosome to mask the defective gene.

The conflict in the information provided arises from statements that color blindness could be autosomal recessive or dominant. However, the correct statement is that red-green colorblind carriers (typically women) are not generally colorblind because the trait they carry is X-linked recessive. The unaffected gene on the other X chromosome compensates for the recessive colorblind allele, hence they do not exhibit the traits of colorblindness but can pass the allele to their offspring.

User Jorge Valvert
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