Human Genetics Problem Set

Problem 13 Tutorial: Methods of human genetics

Which is NOT a common method used in human genetic analysis?

D. test cross

Mendel's test cross

The test cross, invented by Mendel, is a deliberate genetic cross between an individual of unknown genotype (homozygous dominant or heterozygous) for a dominant phenotype, and a homozygous recessive individual. Deliberate genetic crosses are not possible in studying human inheritance. They would be both immoral and unethical, and the waiting time for results would be too long. Patterns of inheritance in humans are studied retrospectively, by constructing family pedigrees, as was illustrated in problems 1, 4, 5, and 10 of this problem set.

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Revised: November 5, 1998
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