The Royal Disease - Part IV
Throughout his life, Leopold had suffered severe hemorrhages, and always was described as “very delicate.” Leopold could not live the life of any everyday human or follow in the footsteps of his brothers and join the army because any cut or bump could lead to death. It was necessary to keep him always under strict surveillance. However, in spite of all the protection, Prince Leopold died at the age of thirty, one year after his marriage before the birth of his son. He ended up having a daughter, Alice of Athlone who was an asymptomatic carrier. She then passed the disease on to her son Rupert and hemophilia has continued to pass down through generations of the royal family hence the nickname the “Royal Disease”.
Questions:
1. Seeing as Alice of Athlone was a carrier, could she have a hemophiliac son with a man who was not a hemophiliac? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
11. If Rupert (hemophiliac) was to have a daughter with woman who was a carrier, what percentage of the females would have hemophilia? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
1. Seeing as Alice of Athlone was a carrier, could she have a hemophiliac son with a man who was not a hemophiliac? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
11. If Rupert (hemophiliac) was to have a daughter with woman who was a carrier, what percentage of the females would have hemophilia? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
Thought Bubble
Queen Victoria is a carrier for hemophilia. However, she might have been illegitimate. Neither her father nor her husband was a hemophiliac. Therefore, there might have been a spontaneous mutation—a one-in-50,000 chance—or Victoria is the daughter of someone other than the Duke of Kent.
III. In order for the Duke of Kent, who does not have hemophilia, to be the father of Queen Victoria, what must be the genotype of her mother if she did not have hemophilia? Explain.
IV. Is it possible for Queen Victoria to have a hemophiliac daughter if the father is not a hemophiliac? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
What do you think? Was Queen Victoria illegitimate or was it a spontaneous mutation?
Queen Victoria is a carrier for hemophilia. However, she might have been illegitimate. Neither her father nor her husband was a hemophiliac. Therefore, there might have been a spontaneous mutation—a one-in-50,000 chance—or Victoria is the daughter of someone other than the Duke of Kent.
III. In order for the Duke of Kent, who does not have hemophilia, to be the father of Queen Victoria, what must be the genotype of her mother if she did not have hemophilia? Explain.
IV. Is it possible for Queen Victoria to have a hemophiliac daughter if the father is not a hemophiliac? Use a punnett square to show your answer.
What do you think? Was Queen Victoria illegitimate or was it a spontaneous mutation?