Final answer:
To determine if a mutation is autosomal dominant from a pedigree analysis, look for vertical transmission, equal effect on males and females, and affected offspring of an affected parent.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to determine if a mutation is autosomal dominant from a pedigree analysis, you should look for the following characteristics:
- Vertical Transmission: Autosomal dominant disorders are passed down through generations in a vertical pattern, meaning that affected individuals appear in each generation.
- Equally Affected Males and Females: Autosomal dominant disorders affect both males and females equally, so there is no gender bias in their inheritance.
- Affected Offspring of an Affected Parent: If an individual with an autosomal dominant disorder has offspring, there is a high chance that at least one of their children will also be affected.