If both parents are carriers for an autosomal recessive trait, what is the probability that their child will be affected?

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Multiple Choice

If both parents are carriers for an autosomal recessive trait, what is the probability that their child will be affected?

Explanation:
Autosomal recessive inheritance is at play here: two carriers (each with one normal allele and one mutated allele) can have a child who is affected only if the child receives the mutated allele from both parents. Each parent has a 1/2 chance to pass the mutated allele. Multiply the chances: 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4, which is 25%. So one quarter of their children would be affected. The other possible outcomes are 50% carriers and 25% unaffected, which helps explain why the 25% figure is correct.

Autosomal recessive inheritance is at play here: two carriers (each with one normal allele and one mutated allele) can have a child who is affected only if the child receives the mutated allele from both parents. Each parent has a 1/2 chance to pass the mutated allele. Multiply the chances: 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4, which is 25%. So one quarter of their children would be affected. The other possible outcomes are 50% carriers and 25% unaffected, which helps explain why the 25% figure is correct.

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