PTC pedigree

Pedigree of PTC tasting

    The chemical compound phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) (OMIM 17120) tastes bitter to most people ("tasters") but is tasteless to others ("non-tasters"). Inability to taste PTC is thought by some to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait: persons with the TT or Tt genotypes have the "taster" phenotype, persons with the t t genotype have the "non-taster" phenotype. The "non-taster" phenotype is therefore described as a "recessive" trait.

    The pattern of inheritance of PTC sensitivity is shown in the above pedigree of two related families. Squares are males, circles are females; "tasters" are indicated by open symbols, "non-tasters" by closed symbols. Note that the "non-taster" phenotype shows the classic pattern of a recessive trait: it is present in generation I, "skips" generation II, and reappears in generation III in two of the grandchildren of two unrelated grandparents who happen to share the trait.

    Homework: Among the "tasters", identify which are homozygous (TT) and which heterozygous (Tt).