Question

20. Edward Lambert, an Englishman, was born in 1717. Lambert had a skin disorder characterized by very thick skin that was shed periodically. The hairs on his skin were very coarse, like quills, giving him the name "porcupine man." Lambert had six sons, all of whom exhibited the same traits. The trait never appeared in his daughters. In fact, the trait has never been recorded in females. Provide an explanation for the inheritance of the "porcupine trait

Answer 1

Answer:

The trait is Y-linked

Explanation:

The only plausible explanation behind the inheritance pattern shown by the porcupine trait is that it is Y-linked.

Y-linked traits are limited to the Y chromosome only, a sex chromosome that is peculiar to only the male gender. Chromosomally, females are XX while males are XY. Hence, only the male gender has the genetic capacity to inherit the porcupine trait. This is why only the sons of Edward Lambert, and never the daughters, exhibited the trait.