Sponsor Area

Principles Of Inheritance And Variation

Question
CBSEENBI12000222

In man four types of blood groups A, B, AB and O are controlled by three alleles of a gene. What is the mechanism of inheritance of the blood groups ?

Solution
ABO blood types in human is a classic example of multiple allelism  and co-dominance where more than two allele forms are present for a trait and both A and B allele are dominant over i allele. Three different alleles IA, IB and i or IO  determine the phenotypes of the four blood groups. 

Both IA and IB are dominant and express themselves over IO or i. Iand IB show co-dominance and produce different forms of sugar wheras Ior i does not produce any sugar. The  Thus the phenotypes produced are -:

IAIA and IAIO Produces the phenotype of A blood group.
IBIB and IBIO produces blood group B.
IAIproduces Blood group AB .
IOIO produces Blood group O.