Final answer:
Yes, offspring express both maternal and paternal haplotypes of MHC on their cells. This is due to the inheritance of one set of chromosomes, including MHC genes, from each parent, with alleles expressed codominantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Offspring indeed express both maternal and paternal haplotypes of MHC on their cells as a result of inheriting one set of chromosomes from each parent. This genetic inheritance includes the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which plays a crucial role in the immune system by presenting foreign antigens and identifying cells as normal and "self" to natural killer (NK) cells. Specifically, with regard to MHC I genes (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C), each person inherits one allele from each parent for a total of six alleles, and each allele is expressed codominantly on the surface of cells. This codominant expression serves a critical function in organ transplantation compatibility and is the reason why a parent or sibling may often be the best organ donor due to a higher likelihood of MHC gene match, reducing the risk of organ rejection.