Both of William's parents have brown hair, but he was born with red hair. Which of the following occurred to produce this redheaded child?
William inherited red hair genes.
Understanding Red Hair Inheritance
Red hair is a unique trait that is often the result of specific genetic inheritance patterns. In the case of William, who was born with red hair despite both of his parents having brown hair, the explanation lies in the inheritance of genes related to hair color.
When it comes to hair color genetics, there are two main types of genes at play: dominant and recessive. In the case of red hair, it is considered a recessive trait, meaning that an individual must inherit two copies of the gene responsible for red hair in order to express the trait.
In William's situation, it is highly likely that both of his parents are carriers of the red hair gene, even though they themselves have brown hair. This means that each parent possesses one copy of the gene for red hair, but since brown hair is a dominant trait, it is expressed in their own hair color.
Despite his parents having brown hair, William ended up inheriting two copies of the red hair gene, one from each parent. This combination resulted in his red hair color, as having two copies of the recessive gene for red hair is necessary for it to be expressed.
Therefore, the occurrence of William having red hair can be attributed to the fact that he inherited red hair genes from both of his parents, even though they do not express the trait themselves. This phenomenon showcases the complexities of genetic inheritance and how traits can be passed down through generations.
In conclusion, William's red hair color can be explained by the inheritance of two copies of the recessive red hair gene from his carrier parents, despite the dominance of brown hair in their own appearances. This serves as a fascinating example of how genetic traits can manifest in unexpected ways within a family.