Which describes autosomal dominant pedigree pattern?

Which describes autosomal dominant pedigree pattern?

• A. Only males affected
• B. Trait often skipped generations
• C. No affected individuals in every generation
• D. Affected individuals appear in successive generations; both sexes affected

Answer: (D)

Autosomal dominant inheritance shows a vertical transmission through generations with both sexes affected. Because one copy of the dominant allele is enough to express the trait, an affected parent can pass it to about half of their children, leading to affected individuals in successive generations and across both males and females. The description that matches this pattern is: affected individuals appear in successive generations; both sexes affected. Other patterns don’t fit autosomal dominant. Only males affected points to a Y-linked or male-limited pattern. A trait that often skips generations suggests recessive inheritance. No affected individuals in every generation describes recessive or de novo cases rather than autosomal dominant.

Autosomal dominant inheritance shows a vertical transmission through generations with both sexes affected. Because one copy of the dominant allele is enough to express the trait, an affected parent can pass it to about half of their children, leading to affected individuals in successive generations and across both males and females. The description that matches this pattern is: affected individuals appear in successive generations; both sexes affected.

Other patterns don’t fit autosomal dominant. Only males affected points to a Y-linked or male-limited pattern. A trait that often skips generations suggests recessive inheritance. No affected individuals in every generation describes recessive or de novo cases rather than autosomal dominant.