Dominant versus recessive traits. A gene is composed of two alleles. An allele can be either dominant or recessive.

Suppose a husband and a wife, who are both carriers of the sickle cell anemia allele but do not have the disease, decide to have a child. Because both parents are carriers of the disease, each has one dominant normal cell allele

(S) and one recessive sickle cell allele (s). Therefore, the genotype of each parent is Ss. Each parent contributes one allele to his or her offspring with each allele being equally likely.

a. List the possible genotypes of their offspring.

b. What is the probability that the offspring will have sickle cell anemia? In other words, what is the probability that the offspring will have genotype ss? Interpret this probability.

c. What is the probability that the offspring will not have sickle cell anemia but will be a carrier (one normal cell allele and one sickle cell allele)? Interpret this probability.