Question

A couple comes to you and tells you that they have one son, and that he has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. They want to have another baby, but aren’t sure if they should try naturally, have in vitro fertilization with embryos that they can select, or use donor sperm. Both parents are healthy and do NOT show traits of this disease. Research how this disorder is inherited. Consider what the chances are for a healthy baby with each of these scenarios and what would you recommend to this couple.

Answer 1

Each son born to a woman with a dystrophin mutation on one of her two X chromosomes has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the flawed gene and having DMD. Because DMD is a recessive trait, and there is a 50% chance of this, the next child WILL NOT have DMD.