Which statement about sickle cell trait inheritance is accurate?

Which statement about sickle cell trait inheritance is accurate?

• A. Only offspring with the disease may inherit the trait.
• B. The trait is not passed to children.
• C. The trait is transmitted only to male offspring.
• D. The trait can be passed on to all children.

Answer: (D)

Sickle cell trait inheritance follows an autosomal recessive pattern. A person with trait has one normal allele and one sickle allele, so they can pass the sickle allele to their offspring regardless of the child’s sex. The outcome for each pregnancy depends on what the other parent contributes. If the other parent is homozygous normal, about half of the children will inherit the trait and half will be normal. If the other parent also carries the trait, you can see the typical mix of normal, trait, and disease in the next generation (about 25% disease, 50% trait, 25% normal). If the other parent has disease (two sickle alleles), every child will inherit at least one sickle allele, meaning the trait can be passed to all children in that mating scenario. So, the idea that the trait allele can be transmitted to offspring—and under some parental combinations to all children—is consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance and applies to both sexes.

Sickle cell trait inheritance follows an autosomal recessive pattern. A person with trait has one normal allele and one sickle allele, so they can pass the sickle allele to their offspring regardless of the child’s sex. The outcome for each pregnancy depends on what the other parent contributes. If the other parent is homozygous normal, about half of the children will inherit the trait and half will be normal. If the other parent also carries the trait, you can see the typical mix of normal, trait, and disease in the next generation (about 25% disease, 50% trait, 25% normal). If the other parent has disease (two sickle alleles), every child will inherit at least one sickle allele, meaning the trait can be passed to all children in that mating scenario. So, the idea that the trait allele can be transmitted to offspring—and under some parental combinations to all children—is consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance and applies to both sexes.