Question

Suppose that 20% of men and 15% of women are carriers of a particular genetic trait. This trait can only be inherited by a child if both parents are carriers. What is the probability that a child is born with this genetic trait

Answer 1

The probability that a child is born with this genetic trait is 0.03.

Explanation:

The probability that a woman is a carrier of a particular genetic trait is,

P (W) = 0.15.

The probability that a man is a carrier of a particular genetic trait is,

P (M) = 0.20.

The two events are independent of each other, since the event of a woman being a carrier is not affected by the man being a carrier and vice-versa.

It is provided that this trait can only be inherited by a child if both parents are carriers.

Compute the probability that both parents are carriers of the trait as follows:

`P(W\cap M)=P(W)* P(M)`

`=0.15* 0.20\\=0.03`

Thus, the probability that a child is born with this genetic trait is 0.03.