Final answer:
The person most likely to suffer from red-green colorblindness in the United States is a male due to the X-linked inheritance pattern. Approximately 8% of European Caucasian males are affected, whereas only 0.4% of females from the same background have the condition. A female would need two copies of the gene to be colorblind, making it less common in women.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Red-Green Colorblindness
In the United States, the individual most likely to suffer from red-green colorblindness is a male due to the X-linked inheritance pattern of the condition. Colorblindness is a sex-linked, recessive trait, which means that males (who have only one X chromosome) are more frequently affected if they receive the recessive gene from their mothers. In contrast, females (who have two X chromosomes) would require both X chromosomes to carry the mutation in order to manifest the condition, which is much less likely.
About 1 in 10 men have some form of color blindness, and it is especially prevalent among males with European Caucasian descent, as approximately 8% are affected. However, among females from the same ancestry, only around 0.4% have red-green color deficiency. A Punnett square illustrating this concept demonstrates that the son of a woman who carries the colorblindness trait has a 50% chance of being colorblind if the father has normal vision.
It's important to note that colorblindness is the most common genetic disorder worldwide, and research is being conducted to find potential cures. People with red-green colorblindness typically have difficulty distinguishing between red and green hues, seeing these colors as shades of brown instead. Understanding the genetic basis and variations of colorblindness such as those affecting only one eye or different types in each eye can provide insights into the functioning and potential treatment of visual disorders.