Genetic discussion question.

For next week’s lab, we will be performing our simulations based on the inheritance pattern of your group’s chosen genetic disorder or trait. Your homework before then is to report here, by replying to this thread,

(1) the genetic inheritance pattern of cystic fibrosis,

(2) your proposed rules for the bead simulation, and

(3) your predictions for how the allele frequencies will change over time based on your simulation design.

Consider:

Do people with cystic fibrosis grow up to reproductive age at the same rate as people without cystic fibrosis? Do people with cystic fibrosis have children at the same rate as people without it? Take into account here that even if people with cystic fibrosis are able to have children, do you think that their health/medical complications may result in them choosing not to have children?

Do people who are heterozygous for the cystic fibrosis allele have any negative health outcomes? Or do their lungs and other organs function as well as people with two wild-type alleles? Does being a heterozygote lead to any advantageous phenotypes?

The “survival rate” of your three genotypes does not have to be exactly 1, 0.5, or 0. You can assign a survival rate somewhere in between these values if you think that more accurately reflects the reproduction patterns for people with cystic fibrosis.

You can earn up to 10 points for this Discussion board post, based on your level of participation and how completely you address the topics listed above. I realize that you may be discussing this material with each other through a group chat, which is totally fine! I don’t expect you repeat your entire conversation on this discussion board, but this is the best way I know to track accountability and give credit to the people in the group who are doing the work. If you prefer to track your communication in a Google Doc, you can provide the link for me on your discussion board so I can see your progress. If using a Google Doc, be sure to comment non-anonymously so that you get credit for your input.