Question

Consider Joe's story. Joe's friend says he thinks Joe doesn't have Marfan syndrome because he has hair and eyes like his father's and acts more like his father, and his father doesn't have Marfan syndrome. Based on what you have learned so far, do you agree with Joe's friend that he's unlikely to have Marfan syndrome? Explain in terms of what you know about the inheritance of genes and chromosomes.

a) Yes, because genetics is not a determining factor in Marfan syndrome.
b) No, because Marfan syndrome is solely determined by behavioral traits.
c) Yes, because Joe's father's traits are not indicative of whether Joe has Marfan syndrome.
d) No, because Marfan syndrome is a dominant genetic disorder.

Answer 1

Joe's friend's reasoning is not valid, as genetic traits do not necessarily determine the presence or absence of Marfan syndrome.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on what we know about the inheritance of genes and chromosomes, I disagree with Joe's friend that he is unlikely to have Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that a person only needs to inherit one faulty gene to have the syndrome. Joe's friend's reasoning that Joe doesn't have Marfan syndrome because he has hair and eyes like his father's and acts more like his father is not valid, as genetic traits do not necessarily determine the presence or absence of a genetic disorder.